Homeowners Defend Centuries-Old Trees from Insurer's Chainsaws

As of October 30th, 2025, a growing issue in the UK is the practice of insurers recommending the felling of trees as a quick fix to address building subsidence. Campaigners warn that this could result in the loss of the country's most irreplaceable ancient trees.

One such case is that of Linda Taylor Cantrill, who fought for years to save a 200-year-old oak tree in the garden of her Exmouth, Devon home. When an insurance company suggested chopping down the tree, Taylor Cantrill says she "turned into Boudicca" to stop the chainsaws, ultimately winning her battle this year.

Gio Iozzi, part of the Haringey Tree Protectors group, is also heavily involved in efforts to save a 120-year-old plane tree in north London, describing the issue as "big a problem as the water pollution scandal." The Woodland Trust has also expressed significant concern over the matter, stating that "mature and veteran trees are often removed before causation is proven."

In Billingshurst, West Sussex, a community is still fighting to save two oak trees believed to be over 200 years old, which insurers claim are the cause of damage to nearby homes. After a legal battle and a petition signed by thousands, the local authority has paused its plans to fell the trees, but their future remains uncertain.

Campaigners argue that insurers often prefer to remove trees rather than pursue engineering solutions, and that the cumulative impact of these decisions can be devastating for urban environments, where trees are crucial for cooling, air quality, and flood mitigation.