Fresh face at protest tree sit-in

A third protester has taken up residence in a 100-year-old beech tree as villagers stepped up their battle to save it from the axe.

Self-employed craftsman Paul Ganton, 41, also known as “Ganty” is the latest eco-warrior to tie himself to the trunk.

“I’m staying up here as long as I need to,” he said yesterday. “I’m not really sure what will happen we will have to wait and see.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Protester Charles Ledger climbed down in the early hours yesterday after spending four nights among the branches of the tree in Irton, near Scarborough.

In a last-ditch attempt to save it, campaigning residents have been battling against the clock to try and exploit a loophole in an injunction that was served by the High Court this week and comes into effect tomorrow. Villagers beat a 4pm deadline yesterday to serve documents to the court recommending alternative solutions to felling the tree and hope their efforts will be successful.

Mark “Snoz” Snow was the first protester to stage a four-night sit-in after he scaled the tree last Tuesday.

A five-year battle over the tree has cost the taxpayers £250,000 and resulted in a bitter dispute between two councils. North Yorkshire Council wanted it felled on safety grounds but Scarborough Council refused to remove a tree preservation order.