Devon villagers saddened after oak tree falls

Residents of a Devon village are saddened at the loss of an oak tree believed to have stood for 700 years.

The tree, located in Silverton, north of Exeter, unexpectedly fell down following storms last week.

It has been described as a symbol of the village as it was used on the emblems of the primary school and parish council.

Mid District Devon Council said it was working with villagers on the future of the site.

Sarah Cross, Silverton Parish Council chairwoman, said many villagers were upset the oak tree was no longer standing.

The parish council estimated it was about 700 years old.

"It is a really big presence in the village," Ms Cross said.

"There were no injuries, and it has just fallen in an area that has caused as little damage as it possibly could on a tree that size."

The tree, which had stood on playing fields on Coach Road, fell on a calm day but there had been wet and windy weather earlier in the week.

A community meeting is due to be held later to try to determine how it fell and to discuss what to do with the timber.

Amy Tucker, whose house overlooked the oak, said it was not clear why it fell.

"It could have just rotted or decayed," she said.

"The whole village is just so saddened by it."

Ms Cross said the future of the site could pay tribute to the fallen oak.

"There are a number of baby trees from the acorns that have come from the oak and we will look to replace it with something suitable," she said.

Mid Devon District Council said it was working with villagers to ensure their wishes were considered.

It added people should avoid the site as it remained hazardous and contractors would remove the fallen tree in due course.

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