The negative space left after the destruction of the lime tree. The missing tree now reveals the windows of Gensing Manor – from which attractive sea views will now be visible. Photograph by Erica Smith
Very poor form from HBC planning department
On Thursday 7 August the mature lime tree outside Gensing Manor was felled. This was only two weeks after the planning application to destroy the tree was passed, and one week into August – the month when tree surgeons decree that the bird nesting season is over. Erica Smith mourns the death of her arboreal neighbour.
48 local residents wrote to the Borough Council planning department to object to the application to cut down the mature lime tree at the front of Gensing Manor in St Leonards-on-Sea. The 48 residents included three of the four local Councillors.
The planning notice was mysteriously removed from the site not once, but twice – yet the consultation period was not extended. The cynical amongst the population, and the long-term residents of Hastings, were not surprised that despite the high level of concern by local people, permission to fell both the mature lime tree and a sycamore tree to the north east of the manor house was granted.
The reason stated by Mayhew Consultancy, the arboreal consultant who submitted the application to cut down the lime tree, was ‘poor form’ – a reference to the fact that the tree had multiple trunks.
Tree destruction in action. Photograph by Nick Terdre.
Some representative comments on the planning application are reproduced below:
“As County Councillor I went to look at the tree on Monday 23 June. I think there is no reason to take down this fine tree in a historic location. It just needs subtle pruning. I know there are many people who have made similar points.
Cllr Trevor Webb (Labour councillor for West St Leonards)
“If parts of the lime tree are weak or dangerous, is there a case for pruning it or reducing the canopy rather than felling it entirely?”
Cllr Tony Collins (Green councillor for Central St Leonards)
“I object to T7, the lime tree being felled and replaced. It is prominent in the landscape and has been there for more years than any human now alive.
This is an essential element in making the street-scape near Gensing Manor so attractive for passers-by. The fact that it has a number of trunks adds to its interest and value, and I am not aware of any safety issues ever having arisen from trees of this shape.”
Mrs Heather Grief
The original petitioner to save the tree, Beau Noon, said: “The Council seems to be doing all the things to appear like they’re doing the right thing with ‘planning notices’ and opportunities to object, but what’s the point of offering space for folks to object if regardless of the amount of those they receive, it does nothing to save this old tree? … This beautiful tree shouldn’t have to die, but she’s on developers’ land and perceived as an object, and the community’s decision doesn’t matter.”
The absence of the tree has been noted by the neighbourhood and weighs heavily on the hearts and in the minds of not only the 48 people who bothered to engage with the Council planning portal, but also the hundreds of people who walk up and down Charles Road and Dane Road and Pevensey Road daily. Rumours abound that there will a public wake held for the tree – let’s hope it will be a wake-up call for Council Planning Officers too.
You can read the original article about the planning application to cut down the lime tree and a sycamore tree here – and see the late lime tree in all its glory.
You can read about attempts to cut down a mature oak tree in Broad Oak by following this link.
The decision to cut down a mature tree which provided bio-diversity and was a green lung has left environmentalists and local residents sad, sore and stumped. Photograph by Erica Smith.
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Having fought developers and the planning department some years ago in order to save two mature oak trees which had TPOs after misleading and erroneous plans meant the developer butchered one and requested felling of all three (the other two were saved thanks to the efforts of local people), I’ve since seen numerous landmark trees disappear from the Hastings skyline. It’s depressing and should be a crime to destroy these majestic elders who support copious wildlife and provide some relief to climate change, besides giving the borough a much needed green outlook. The current right wing Labour Party who, like the Tories and Reform, are owned by corporate interests seem to be intent on allowing greedy developers to destroy any natural habitat with zero mitigation. The British Isles are the most wildlife depleted countries in Europe and yet we are seeing further erosion of planning protections while the government also reneged on its promise to halt the disgraceful and unscientific badger cull, which is just a sop for certain wildlife-hating farmers. Badgers are a supposedly protected species!
It would seem that the profits of the greedy are all that count and our planning department has made some glaringly awful decisions over the years, for what reason, one can only guess at. People in the area who had a pleasant green outlook, now have a rather ugly building spoiling their view and we are all the poorer.
Comment by Andrew — Tuesday, Aug 19, 2025 @ 18:55
Gensing Manor has been empty and deserted for many years. It will be good to see it occupied again to be part of the community. The area around it is replete with statuesque mature healthy trees – notably in the triangular open space right in front of it. It will be good to get a better view of such an attractive building.
Comment by neville austin — Sunday, Aug 17, 2025 @ 22:40
Christopher Hurrell points out’…two tree officers from other areas recommended that the lime tree be retained with the possible removal of stems for mitigation or that the application be refused. No mention was made of the tree being dangerous’.
So the tree Should Not have been cut down. Full stop!
I agree with Charlotte Phillips: the HBC needs to arrange a public meeting to discuss its policies – and wooden-headed decision making – on the felling of trees. For here, they’ve singularly failed us.
Multi-stemmed lime trees are very rare For this reason alone, the Gensing Manor lime tree needed preserving by pollarding. And left to flourish. The tree was unique and eye-catching; and complemented the glorious lime tree outside No. 95 Pevensey Road nearby.
Comment by Patrick Glass — Saturday, Aug 16, 2025 @ 20:15
As Chris Hurrell (below) notes: ‘The Tree Officer’s initial cursory comments on the application were replaced four times as the number of public objections increased. The Tree Officer rarely comment in details on applications. Tree Officers from East Sussex and Rother were finally consulted – they advised that the lime be retained with some coppicing/pollarding. This advice was ignored by the HBC Tree Officer’.
The HBC’s Tree Officer is clearly not following the Best Advice on protecting the Borough’s trees. Shame on you!
Multi-trunked lime trees are a rarity. For that reason alone, the tree should have been pollarded, and allowed to flourish.
(But take heart: at least we have a magnificent lime tree nearby – in front of No. 95 Pevensey Road. It’s still the eye-catching ‘Star of the Road’)
Comment by Patrick Glass — Friday, Aug 15, 2025 @ 12:44
As one of the Gensing ward councillors: Protecting a mature Lime Tree.
I too went up to the Gensing Manor site and indeed I objected to the felling of the mature lime tree on the planning portal. I was told my objection was not valied and furthermore followed this up to our lead executive officer, he was sure it would just need to be trimmed back too, but then we had 2 subsequent tree officers from Lewes and Wealden and I was further told it would be a danger to the residents, furthermore if it was to come down would be of danger.
I will be following up more on this matter and truly feel very sad it has come to this. I went to visit a local yesterday in Dane Road, there are still many mature trees in Gensing mansion, but it still does not resolve future trees from being felled this way.
The constitution is going to be reviewed in October and I hope this allows the system to change on TPO. Furthermore as a green councillor protecting trees is of up most importance for our environment, biodiversity of nature, keeping carbon in the ground, climate change and our neighbourhood.
Thank you.
Amanda
Comment by Amanda Jobson — Friday, Aug 15, 2025 @ 12:23
Please can there be a review meeting arranged for HBC and the general public to attend. This subject needs clarification, public airing of views, transparency and accountability.
Comment by Charlotte Phillips — Thursday, Aug 14, 2025 @ 21:50
Cllr Jobson’s statement that ““in this instance the (2) tree officers which came in from other areas to inspect the tree again, Lewes and Wealden agreed this Lime tree was a danger to the community and did need to be felled.” is incorrect.
The planning officer’s delegated report says that the 2 tree officers from other areas recommended that the lime tree be retained with some possible removal of stems for mitigation or that the application be refused. No mention was made of the tree being dangerous.
The report stated “In summary, the Tree Officers from these authorities advised that, based on the submitted information, their likely approach would have been either to request a reduction in the number of stems or to recommend refusal. It is noted, however, that such a request has previously been made to the applicant and declined”
Comment by Christopher Hurrell — Thursday, Aug 14, 2025 @ 17:14
When I complained to Amanda Jobson (local councillor) she replied: “in this instance the (2) tree officers which came in from other areas to inspect the tree again, Lewes and Wealden agreed this Lime tree was a danger to the community and did need to be felled.”
And yet of you look at the stump it appears perfectly healthy…
A cynical interpreation would be that once again HBC rolls over at the behest of developers
Comment by David Young — Thursday, Aug 14, 2025 @ 09:25
The same happened in Maidstone where we used to live. There was an Oak tree that had a protection order, but the council decreed otherwise and it was cut down. A huge office block took the place of the was glorious Oak tree. They also removed the covenant on the Harrow Lane playing fields and build houses there. Councils are a law unto themselves.
Comment by Lynda and Colin Foy — Thursday, Aug 14, 2025 @ 05:09
The role of the HBC Tree Officer in this decision is very questionable. He rarely protects trees from developers interests. He rarely issues new Tree Preservation Orders. As usual he recommended the tree be removed.
The tree officer’s initial cursory comments on the application were replaced four times as the number of public objections increased. The tree officer rarely comment in details on applications. Tree officers from East Sussex and Rother were finally consulted – they advised that the lime be retained with some coppicing/pollarding. This advice was ignored by the HBC tree officer.
The HBC constitution was changed in 2016 to prevent tree applications going to the planning committee to be decided by elected councillors. It’s time that the constitution was changed to allow cases such as this to be debated and decided in public by elected councillors rather than by officers using delegated authority. This would go some way to making officers decisions accountable.
Comment by chris hurrell — Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 @ 08:28
Roost – enough said!!!
Comment by Gordon Russell — Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025 @ 08:18