Homeowner ‘killed protected tree that blocked sun from his £900k house after council refused to let him cut it down’

A WEALTHY pensioner ‘killed’ a protected tree which blocked sunlight from bathing his luxury home after the council refused to let him cut it down.

Robert Page, 68, arranged to have the 65ft pine tree in the front garden of his £900k property in Poole Harbour, Dorset, poisoned with a deadly herbicide, a court heard.

The ‘huge and historic’ specimen was protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) and had stood in the posh neighbourhood since the early 1950s.

Salisbury Crown Court heard that Mr Page had applied for consent to have the mature pine tree removed from 2015.

But he became frustrated after the application was refused in 2018, and the evergreen began to wither and die despite having decades of natural life ahead of it, a jury heard.

A landscape gardener employed by Mr Page emailed the town hall informing them he would be removing the tree which was “dying and weeks from death”.

A council tree officer then visited the detached property to inspect the Monterey pine, and discovered it had been sabotaged.

They claim that holes had been drilled into the trunk and herbicide poured inside before concrete was tipped around the base to remove oxygen from the roots, “choking” the tree.

The court hear that the tree was also ‘ring barked’ meaning section of bark was cut out to prevent it from absorbing nutrients.

A jury heard that when Mr Page and his financial advisor wife Nicola returned home from a bike ride to find the tree expert there, he was overheard saying “don’t tell them anything.”

Nick Cotter, prosecuting, told Salisbury Crown Court that Mr Page “permitted” the tree to be destroyed as its large canopy overshadowed his south-facing home.

Mr Cotter said: “It was a huge historic Monterey pine protected by law. It was at least 64 years of age and was planted in the early 1950s.

“It stands within the grounds of the defendant’s property at 26 Avalon, a road made up of mainly large, detached homes. The beach at Sandbanks is just a short walk away.

“It covers a large portion of the front of his home and its foliage provides a lot of shade.

“It can be seen from some distance away. It is an important feature of the local landscape.

“It was still in the early stages of its natural life span – they do not reach their full size until they are roughly 80 to 100 years old.

“The TPO was made in 1989 – long before Mr Page moved to the property in 2006. It applies to many of the trees in the Sandbanks and Poole area.”

INJECTED WITH HERBICIDE

The court heard that the local council was first made aware that the tree was dying in June 2018.

Tree officer James Roberts discovered it had been killed “deliberately” with Mr Cotter adding: “Concrete had been placed at the base of the tree above the root structure – this removes oxygen from the root collar and suffocates it. It also prevents the roots from taking in water.

“There was also evidence of ring-barking which has no other purpose than to destroy the tree – bark is like the veins of the tree. Removing it will have an impact on the tree’s ability to take in nutrients.

“Holes were drilled into the tree and thereafter the tree was injected with glyphosate, a herbicide.

“The defendant appeared and denied any knowledge of the damage to the tree.”

He read out a statement made by Mr Page to council officers after they discovered the sabotage to the tree.

He explained that a landscaper, employed by Mr Page, had applied to remove the tree three years previously, claiming it was “decaying and posed a threat to life for local residents.”

Mr Cotter said: “There have been applications since 2015 which were refused because of this tree – in all of them, it is commented on as being of public amenity – value – and not in any way decaying or dying. Thereafter it does begin to die.”

Mr Roberts told the court the pine was in ‘substantial decline’ and had lost its green colour.

Mr Page denies charges of breaching a TPO with intent to destroy the tree.

He denied all knowledge of damage being done to the tree and said the planning application was made because the “severe lean of it could damage residents and cause loss of life.”

The trial continues.