Bucks comes together in a bid to save iconic Oak tree

Tuesday, 1 November 2022 07:00

Local residents came out in force on Saturday (29/10) in a bid to save a 250 year old old oak tree from destruction by HS2.

The lone Oak on Leather Lane, known locally as Ilona, is facing the chop as the high speed train company wants to issue their own landscape designs around the track.

But local campaign group 'Save Leather Lane Oaks' encouraged everyone to visit Ilona, as part of the Woodland Trust's 'Check a tree week' to highlight the issue, and many people exchanged relative historical and personal stories about Ilona.

Local resident Wendy Ramsey, shared her views while at the event:

There too was Catherine Bunting, Green Councillor for Great Missenden Council, a Parish Councillor and representative of Prestwood Nature Environmental Group:

Bucks councillor Jane McBean congratulated the Campaign Group:

The grassroots campaign group was initiated by local resident Carol-Anne O’Callaghan in March 2021 along with her daughter Blaize. Together with Lindsey Spinks from Lawyers for Nature and parish councillors, they managed to halt the felling of 87 out of 99 Veteran oaks in Leather Lane Bucks along with Ilona the Oak, with the threat of legal action.

For more information head to: https://www.bucks.radio/news/local-news/local-250-year-old-oak-tree-at-threat-due-to-hs2/

Campaign Report

Leather Lane Report July 2021 (v1).pdf (hs2amersham.org.uk)

Campaign Film:

Save Leather Lane Oaks! - YouTube

Petition:

Petition · Save Leather Lane Oak Trees from HS2 · Change.org

Crowdfunder:

Fundraiser by Blaize O’Callaghan : Help to save Leather Lane Oaks from HS2 (gofundme.com)