Beech tree ‘hero’ braced for long haul

Carpenter Mark Snow, 36, has been labelled a “village hero” in Irton, near Scarborough, after he prevented the axe from falling on the historic landmark by tying himself to its ageing trunk on Tuesday.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post yesterday, Mr Snow, also known as “Snoz”, said: “I’ve been sleeping really well. Villagers are doing two-hour shifts and they are all out in force again today. I’m in it for the long haul.”

Campaigning villagers spent the day attempting to find out when North Yorkshire County Council planned to issue an injunction to remove Mr Snow in order to push ahead with felling the tree.

But lead campaigner David Parker said they had struggled to get any information. “At the moment it’s a stalemate,” he said.

The sit-in is the latest dramatic twist in a five-year battle which has cost the taxpayers £250,000 and has resulted in a bitter dispute between two councils. Residents and the owners of a nearby property have been battling to get it chopped down on safety grounds. The argument went to court following an attempt by the county council to have the tree felled when Scarborough Council refused to remove a Tree Preservation Order. The saga has resulted in the county council being hit with a £250,000 legal bill.