Petition to save All Saints' Church beloved cedar tree

The cedar in All Saints' Church's grounds was due to be removed on October 4, after being diagnosed with the incurable fungal infection Phaeolus schweinitzii.

But before a small group of locals gathered next to it for around four hours to prevent work going ahead.

Although  churchwardens say they “share the sadness of losing such a cherished part of the landscape” and have paused the work, they maintain that it must be removed due to “posing a considerable risk to people and property”.

The tree at All Saints' Church today. (Image: Laurie MacDonald) Paul Rubin, who started the petition, described the “sturdy” cedar as “a significant part of out local history” and questioned whether it is really in a bad enough state to warrant cutting down.

He said a group of residents got together to "save our tree" due to feeling that the church has “no interest in people’s concerns”.

The petition – which has gathered 420 signatures as of October 22 – says: “Please sign this petition now to show your disapproval and support for the preservation of our community's remarkable Cedar tree.”

One Carpenders Park resident who waited by the tree on the morning of the initial attempt to fell it says he is “not an eco-warrior” and would accept the tree should be cut down if it is done “the right way”.

Police were called as a small group of protestors blocked the felling on October 4. (Image: Contribution) He is not satisfied with the tree survey submitted to Three Rivers District Council before permission was given and suggested that extra care needs to be taken when dealing with trees that are important within a community.

If action is needed after further assessment, he said, something should be done to preserve part of the tree.

As things stand, the 37-year-old claimed he would protest any attempt to chop it down again.

In a statement yesterday (October 22), the churchwardens at All Saints’ Church said that “sadly” the infection has caused “significant internal decay”.

According to the church, the tree has begun to lean over a pathway, road, and car park making it dangerous for passers by. (Image: All Saints' Church) “Expert assessments have led both Three Rivers District Council and the Diocese of St Albans to approve its removal,” they added.

“This decision was not taken lightly, and we share the sadness of losing such a cherished part of the landscape.”

While the church has “full confidence” in the initial inspection, it is apparently open to a second inspection by a qualified, accredited, and independent expert “should the organisers of the petition wish to fund it” to put people’s minds at ease.

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This inspection would have to be done within 21 days “to ensure public safety”.

The statement continued: “We will pause work until we reach a final decision, after carefully considering any potential liability arising from delaying necessary action, and subject to the church insurer’s requirements.

“In the meantime, for safety reasons, the tree will remain cordoned off.”

The church added that a new cedar will be planted to replace it.

The petition also suggested that the proposal could have been put forward to make room for a potential development of 5G mast, something the church has described as “entirely baseless”.