Devoran ancient oak has branches hacked off

An appeal has gone out for off people - claimed to be off road bikers - to stop damaging the landmark ancient oak tree after its branches were hacked off in what appeared to be an attempt to clear a path for cycle jumps.

The tree was hacked to allow ramps to be built for bikes. They left behind a shovel and a green helmet.

Five teenage boys were spotted digging holes, in what one person claimed was to make ramps for a cycle trail on the Devoran side of Devoran Creek just past the Surfer's Cafe along a route popular with dog walkers.

To clear the way for the paths they had hacked branches off a tree known as “The Old Oak” causing lasting damage. Another smaller tree next to it was hacked down.

The tree was badly damaged

The branches appear to have been hacked with an axe. The culprits left behind a green cycling helmet and a broken spade.

The tree was hacked to allow ramps to be built for bikes. They left behind a shovel and a green helmet. 

A dog walker, who wishes to remain anonymous, spotted the damage and has reported the incident to the council. They want whoever is causing the damage to stop immediately.

They said five teenage boys were spotted digging holes to make ramps for a cycle trail on Devoran side of creek.

"'The Old Oak Tree' has been hacked to make the path clear causing lasting damage alongside another smaller tree which has been hacked down," they said.

The oak pictured before it was damaged

The oak is towards the further most tip of what is known locally as Butney Bank, although it is not named that on any map. Its isolation, out on the strip of land in the middle of a tidal creek, means that it has grown into a perfect and rather splendid dome. The whole of this tree, from the tips of it’s bare canopy to the thick roots pushing into the muddy ground, is bright green.

The strip of land stretches out into the creek where the river Carnon and Kennall meet. The whole creek used to be a hive of industry where chimneys billowed smoke, furnaces roared and boats brought timber from Norway and took away mining machinery to destinations as far flung as South Africa and Brazil.