An ancient oak tree in Marley Road cannot be trimmed back because it would it would kill it before its time, town planners have said. Read this and more.

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OAK MUST STAY: An ancient oak tree in Marley Road cannot be trimmed back because it would it would kill it before its time, town planners have said.

The owner of Fairy Cross had applied to reduce the crown of the oak.

But East Devon District Council’s tree officer said that the tree “contributed to the amenity of the area” and had public “significance”.

It was added that the work would “shorten the tree’s life expectancy.”

Councillor Maddie Chapman said: “The tree is subject of a Tree Preservation Order. It is very beautiful and very old. I go for refusal.”

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TREE PLANTING: An Exmouth environmental campaign group will once again plant scores of trees in an area off Pound Lane.

Last year, Transition Town Exmouth planted almost 50 trees on land opposite Greenfingers Garden Centre, taking advantage of the town council’s free tree scheme. Following the success of last year, the group is to meet on March 16 to again plant trees on the public space.

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BIRD COUNT: 1,000 volunteers are wanted to count one of the UK’s most elusive birds in more than a thousand woods across the UK in the 2013 national woodcock survey being organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). To participate in the count, visit www.bto.org/woodcock-survey, where all survey information can be downloaded including survey forms, details of survey sites and information on the counting method itself. There are also links from the GWCT website: www.gwct.org.uk