Sadness as 200-year-old oak tree felled

A 200-year-old tree at a National Trust garden has been felled due to safety concerns.

The trust said the red oak tree at the Saltram estate, Plymouth, had a "progressive fungal disease", which affected its "long-term structural stability".

It said the decision was "not taken lightly" with all possible alternatives "carefully considered".

Luke Barley, from the trust, said it was a "sad occasion" but "the tree had been colonised by an aggressive fungi, meaning that we had to act to ensure the safety of visitors and other people who might be affected should it fall".

The trust said it recognised the importance of the tree to its visitors but the decision was made to "prevent future risk to the public and to ensure the long-term safety of the site".

In 2025, the tallest tree at the garden also had to be felled after it had developed two large vertical cracks, and a fungus.

Barley said a number of experts were involved with this decision, which included the Saltram rangers, who are trained tree inspectors, regional and national advisers, and external arboriculturists "who used advanced technology to measure the extent of the decay at the base of the tree".

"All agreed that it would not be responsible of us to retain this tree in this location.

"We take our responsibilities to safety very seriously, but also our responsibility to the care for trees for all the many things they provide, homes for wildlife, carbon storage, clean air and water, and beauty and meaning for people.

He added: "At Saltram and across the trust we have very many trees under careful conservation management, as well as plans to establish millions more."

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.