Ancient tree felled to make way for HS2 line
A centuries- old pear tree which won England's tree of the year in 2015 has been felled to make way for the new HS2 high speed rail line.
The Woodland Trust said it was “shocked and upset” at the felling of the Cub - bington Pear, near South Cubbington Wood, Warwickshire, as par t of the rail line works, despite campaigners fighting to save it.
The conservation charity also raised concerns that the tree, which is more than 200 years old, was felled after promises the stump and rooting structure would be relocated to provide an opportunity for the parent tree to regrow.
HS2 Ltd said it planned to re locate the stump and rooting structure as pledged, but had to remove the top part of the tree by felling it in order to do that.
Woodland Trust ecolo - gist Luci Ryan said: “We are shocked and upset that HS2 have felled the historic Cubbington Pear, despite a long battle to save it.
“When we told H S 2 of our concerns about the complications of coppicing and moving the Cub - bington Pear Tree as it is in fact hollow, we were surprised that they told us that it would be felled and used as deadwood.
“This is in contradiction to what the government told the public would happen.”
The Woodland Trust is urging people to demand the government holds HS2 Ltd to account over the destruction of ancient woods and trees.
But the company, which has started work on phase one of the line from London to Birmingham, said more than 40 new saplings had been grown from cuttings taken from the veteran pear tree.