A case for Special Branch? Hunt is on for saboteur who drilled holes into a 35ft pine tree before dousing it with toxic chemicals – as residents of upmarket Dorset resort brand mystery ‘poisoner’ an ‘absolute disgrace’
- David McEvoy has reported the poisoning of the 35ft specimen to the council
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It’s a whodunnit on a seaside millionaires’ row that should be a case for Special Branch.
But as the victim is a Scots pine tree, the deadly poisoning is being investigated by town hall sleuths.
The 35ft specimen is believed to have been attacked last month in Poole, Dorset, with holes drilled in its trunk and toxic chemicals applied.
The tree, which has turned brown, is on a patch of private land between Poole Harbour and a row of luxury houses – and one of several covered by protection orders meant to prevent anyone from damaging them or chopping them down.
Retired civil servant David McEvoy owns the land where the dying tree stands, which adjoins his garden. He bought the site in 1999 to stop any development there.
Mr McEvoy, who is in his 70s, reported the ‘disgraceful’ act of poisoning to Bournemouth Council last month
Mr McEvoy said: ‘It is clear that the tree at the end of my property has had holes drilled into it which have then been filled with poison’ (an arrow indicates where the tree is)
Mr McEvoy, who is in his 70s, reported the ‘disgraceful’ act to Bournemouth Council last month. Two tree experts have taken samples of an odd-looking white residue seeping out of the bottom of the trunk.
Mr McEvoy said: ‘It is clear that the tree at the end of my property has had holes drilled into it which have then been filled with poison. I have let my plot of land grow wild since 2012. I bought it to ensure that no houses would be built there.
‘I cannot abide the fact that tree poisoning appears to have taken place on my land.’
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Council officials have also been speaking to neighbours on the well-heeled street – where properties have an average value of £1.7million – for information.
Debbie Ward, the former chief executive of Dorset Council who lives next door to Mr McEvoy, said: ‘We had someone from the planning enforcement team come down here a few weeks ago and I spoke to them.’
Over the past ten years there has been a spate of tree attacks in the exclusive suburbs that surround Poole Harbour.
The most high-profile case was that of a businessman who was fined £75,000 in 2012 for arranging to have a 50ft pine tree felled.
Councillor Ann Stribley said: ‘Whoever has drilled into this pine and poisoned it is an absolute disgrace.’
And John Challinor, chairman of the local Parkstone Bay Residents Association, said: ‘It is more than disappointing, it is rather distressing that people feel the need to do this.
‘Yes, people like to look out on to the harbour, but trees frame that view and give it a more natural setting.’
Nearby resident Jacqui Rolfe said: ‘It will remain a mystery for now, but I hope the investigation gets to the bottom of it.’
Gay Hoddinott, 83, who lives a few houses down from the poisoned tree, said she was ‘disgusted’ by the act.
Another local, Tony Lee, said: ‘I get very upset when we hear these things happening. People get away with it and they don’t seem to be punished.’
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council confirmed that it had ‘received reports of a potential tree poisoning’.
But they explained: ‘Due to this being a criminal investigation, the council is unable to comment as the case is ongoing.’
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