Today the High Court has granted an interim injunction preventing the felling of 'Old King George', our beloved 170 year old oak in Wivenhoe, and a nearby horse chestnut. This is temporary protection while legal issues are examined. We’ll share any updates as soon as we can.

Local press have reported on the recent High Court application. We will provide an update as and when we have news on this. Thanks again to all those who've given us their support. www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/2572263...

Merry Christmas and festive wishes to all. Thanks for all your support this year, we couldn't have made it to this point without you all. Pictured is old King George (left) with the horsechestnut to its right.

Today we’ve applied to the court for urgent interim relief alongside a Judicial Review, seeking a temporary pause on the proposed felling of Old King George and a horse chestnut. This is a last-resort step to prevent irreversible harm while outstanding issues are considered. More to follow soon.

Old King George standing proud out of the mist today, despite the death sentence that hangs over it from Aviva and Wivenhoe Town Council, still refusing to show their evidence or to entertain any alternative expert evidence. @stopthechop.bsky.social

We need your help to raise funds for future potential legal costs in seeking a fair and transparent outcome for our trees. We are looking for pledges for future legal support, and for direct contributions to our Crowdfunder page. Links with more info below.

www.change.org/p/save-wiven... a lot of developments in recent weeks, with our council planning to fell our trees on the 5th Jan. Can you help us to prevent that?

Sorry we've been a bit quiet over here of late. Trying to post in the *other place* as that's where decision maker Aviva are, but don't want to neglect you. So will try to bring you up to speed...

Wow we've raised £11,700 so far, with more being counted at the moment from a busy weekend of in-person fundraising activities. And our Crowdfunder page will still be open on an ongoing basis if you'd like to contribute, you still can it turns out! Thanks for all the support so far.

Today's your last chance to contribute to our crowdfunding page. The deadline is 4.28pm. We have raised more than £11k and there's more to come from the cash raised from in person fundraising activities this weekend www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/savewivenh...

Our crowdfunder ends on Sunday afternoon and we need your help! We are nearly at £10,000 out of our £20,000 goal. We would really appreciate any contributions to help us save our old oak tree www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/savewivenh... the more money we raise the further we can run in our campaign

After six weeks of our lives being dominated by the tree, our tree, I thought it was time to synthesise my thoughts into a blog...the story so far. www.chrisgibsonwildlife.co.uk/saving-wiven... @stopthechop.bsky.social

It's been quite the week. The tree protectors have vacated the tree vigil, with fencing all removed from site and car park reopened. Old King George has had a bit of a haircut, we think he still looks rather handsome as worrying as it was to entrust him to the tree surgeon.

@stopthechop.bsky.social After another tumultuous week of emotion, including now-shelved plans to net our tree to prevent birds breeding (which would halt plans to fell), the tree has now had a haircut, we hope as a prelude to letting it live.

We have very happy news to share. After much dialogue, we have formed an agreement with Wivenhoe Town Council. This involves a stay of execution for our trees until the 31 March to allow an independent evaluation to take place. We are grateful for all the support to this point.

Word for the day: Marcescence - the phenomenon where some trees keep their dry leaves through the winter instead of shedding them. And patches of OUR tree show this! @stopthechop.bsky.social

@stopthechop.bsky.social Back again protecting. We have tidied the route in and out so there's nothing (except the council fence) to stop the council reopening the car park, is there? (.... tumbleweed moment...)

Not a huge amount new to report here, the trees are still standing, the vigil goes on. We await confirmation from the council on actions discussed more than two weeks ago. Meanwhile, the clock hasn't stopped for nature, with our beloved oak tree quietly getting ready for spring.

It's been a whole month since our petition was started by a mum in Wivenhoe. Read some news and the background for why we care so much about our trees here www.change.org/p/save-wiven...

@stopthechop.bsky.social it's not just the tree itself. Nor just the birds singing in its boughs. Nor just the insects eating it. In the sun today - a myriad of lichens and mosses nestling in the bark. As our friend James Canton said: 'some 2300 species rely on oaks – and one of them is us!'

February: a month our tree thought it would never see! We have stood firm against corporate bullying, & will continue until Reason prevails. 3 weeks on and the buds are that little bit bigger than when our protective vigil started. Next milestone: the April burst of green. @stopthechop.bsky.social

Our tree is now a historical landmark on Google maps! You can now review it, write comments and add your own photos.

Can you help us with our crowdfunding efforts please? We are nearly at £7k, please help us to get closer to our funding goal to be able to commission an expert, interdisciplinary independent evaluation 🙏https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/savewivenhoeoldoaktree

It's February 1st, the day our trees were due to be gone by. Our trees are still standing. We will be gathering together this afternoon to mark the date with positivity 💛 thanks to Anna Gibb, local artist for this wonderful drawing.

On Tuesday 28th January 2025 a group of Woodcraft Folk children visited the Oak tree in Wivenhoe carpark by King George playing field. They came with their banners, and songs to serenade and decorate the tree. (1/2)

In any civilized society, facts, data and evidence are paramount. 'Evidence' withheld from scrutiny is not evidence. Evidence 'interpreted' by vested interests is not evidence. And yet a death sentence is passed. Age of Reason? No, Age of Treason against natural justice.

Our latest update www.change.org/p/save-wiven...

Not much we can report here, except that the tree still stands! The vigil continues. We still have hope.

@stopthechop.bsky.social back for another stint protecting THE tree, once a labour or principle, now a labour of love. Been a while, what with a short break and a nasty bug: good to see the tree still stands. Though pity the vigil is still needed....

@stopthechop.bsky.social back for another shift. Hoping that reason will prevail: in a civilized society, it is plainly wrong that a death sentence can be passed without the empirical data, the evidence, being open for scrutiny by all. This is not just about a tree, it is democratic accountability

Listen to this brilliant radio show, which is how we discovered our fab barrister Paul. Hear about his work saving trees in Sheffield and much more.

The tree was much bigger & more impressive than I expected & I fully understood why the people of Wivenhoe are fighting so hard to retain it, by camping out in the freezing cold. The meeting with the council went well & there should be positive news about the future of the tree to share soon

This weekend it is the big garden birdwatch for @rspb.bsky.social. Our campaign supports this citizen led initiative and we will be submitting our bird spotting endeavours from our tree this weekend and spreading word more widely in our community 🐦‍⬛🦅🐤🕊️🐦🦆

I travelled to Wivenhoe today to represent the King George Oak in a crunch meeting to save it from being destroyed by Aviva insurance. Whilst I was, legally, instructed by the local tree protectors, in my heart the true client is the tree itself, so it was exciting to meet it the oak in person.

Statement from today's meeting: We are pleased to report the positive meeting held between Wivenhoe Town Council and the Save the Old King George Oak Tree campaign on a confidential basis today. We hope to be able to confirm an agreed way forward in the next week. (1/)

Read our latest update on our petition here www.change.org/p/save-wiven...

Wow, only 3 days in and we're approaching £5,000 of support to our crowdfunding page, thank you to all who have contributed so far. Please help us. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/savewivenh...

A misty day here in Wivenhoe. The first photo is of our beloved tree(s) while the second shows other trees surviving from the old Wivenhoe Hall estate. None of these trees have TPOs. Let's hope this is rectified in the aftermath of our campaign, as the council and community alike realise their worth

@stopthechop.bsky.social Another stint by our tree: a grade A grey day, tendrils of damping mist permeating through. But two Dunnocks singing along the hedge line with the other (forgotten) trees issued with a death sentence while Aviva and Wivenhoe Town Council withhold the 'evidence' against them.

Article from our local poet/jaded rock star about our threatened local ancient oak and the people protecting it & how nature is the true old style religion to many of us in the UK. Do feel free to sign the petition to at least give the tree a fair hearing on www.change.org/p/save-wiven...

"Battle to save historic oak as insurers put profit before trees" from Martin Newell in the Eastern Daily Press

Turns out Wivenhoe is a place that takes play space seriously. In the 1930s, kids were fighting for their right to a joyful play space. Now in 2025, we seek to protect the playspace they already enjoy from destruction by corporate interests. Save our trees, save our children's playspace.

We are now fundraising to support our campaign. We are hoping to raise enough funds for professional services towards delaying the felling of the tree to allow independent and transparent evaluations. We've already raised £1k in a matter of hours! Support us: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/savewivenh...

@stopthechop.bsky.social 6AM and back to protection duty. A week on, and we are still here. The tree is still here. And what started as a matter of principle has become a matter of love. Living with A tree has made it OUR tree. And never an angry word spoken from under its canopy!

A photo of the tree doing what it does best from 1993 (tree seen in right)

Read our latest news here: www.change.org/p/save-wiven...

Our tree (and the two others and hedge we now seek to enfold in our love and protect too) has not yet been felled. We understand a tree surgeon is booked in, perhaps already postponed once. We don't know when. So tree protectors have taken to 24/7 watch to protect the tree and enjoy its company.

@stopthechop.bsky.social back to the front line with the Protectors.Today is the final planned execution day. Sun not shining but spirits are still high. Come on Wivenhoe Town Council, do the right thing for the planet, the community, for democracy and your reputation.

End of our night shift as Tree Protectors. A lovely mild one; since 330 Robins serenading, at least 6 right now. Tawny Owls hooting, Muntjacs barking; Fox just passed by invisibly, trailing scent. No doubt regular fare for the tree which still stands proud! @stopthechop.bsky.social

We live in an amazing community who are falling deeper in love with this tree with every day that passes. Our resolve is strong. We are determined not to give up.