By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
Campaigners who fought to save four trees from being felled to create a car park extension have been congratulated by Sir David Attenborough in a handwritten letter.
The trees in were saved at the eleventh hour after the district council reversed its decision in November, having already fenced them off ready to be cut down.
The turnaround followed a long campaign by local groups opposed to the plans, with some even camping beneath the trees to try to stop the work.
Louise Smith, who was part of the ‘Stop the Chop’ campaign group, sent Sir David a letter in October about the plans and wrote to him again in February to tell him of the group’s success.
Now, campaigners have been left ‘amazed’ after they received a response from the legendary broadcaster and biologist after just four days.
He congratulated the group and made a special mention for the “noble souls who stayed all night beside the trees to prevent their destruction”.
In the handwritten note, he adds: “Many thanks for writing to tell me about your successes – on a day where there are precious few things that seem to be going right.”
Louise told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I sent the letter on Wednesday and got a response on Saturday.
“I recognised the handwriting straight away and I was shaking and quite tearful when I read it.
“It was a real heartfelt letter and it just meant the world.
“Although it was written to me, it was a massive group effort and it was for everyone who took part.”
The original plan to fell the trees followed a legally binding agreement Newark and Sherwood District Council signed with Datch Properties Limited in 2019, which committed the council to building the car park.
The council said it reversed the decision after receiving a last minute offer from the developer in November.
Campaigners were told this month that one of the four trees will still have to be felled due to a disease in the trunk.
Louise read out the letter to the group during their first event of 2022 in the green space which was saved.
She added: “The group were thrilled and really emotional.
“Everyone who was campaigning has seen Sir David Attenborough as an icon, and the letter is validation for what we did.
“It was really tough in those last few weeks of campaigning and everyone is amazed that he knows about that little patch of green that we saved.
“We’re all really proud of what we’ve done together as a group. People put their hearts and souls into this campaign for months and years. It makes me really proud to live in this town.”
She plans to frame the letter and “treasure it forever”.
Louise’s son Rafferty, six, also received a letter from Sir David last year after he sent him some drawings of animals.
The letter in full
Dear Louise Smith,
What a wonderful, encouraging and altogether splendid letter to receive. Many many congratulations to you – and especially those noble souls who stayed all night beside the trees to prevent their destruction – on saving your precious green space.
And many thanks for writing to tell me about your success – on a day when there are precious few things that seem to be going right.
Best wishes and congratulations to you all. David Attenborough.
