The ancient Wellingborough trees rooted in a High Court case

Approval was given to remove more than 50 ancient lime trees to make way for a dual carriageway in Northamptonshire before protesters stepped in

Attempts to save an avenue of ancient trees will be heard at the High Court later.

Some of the lime trees in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, have already been felled by developers, but will the remaining trees face the same fate?

What happened to the trees in Wellingborough?

More than 50 lime trees on The Walks were approved for felling as part of the 3,650-home Stanton Cross development.

Sixteen of the trees, which date from the 1600s, were cut down in February 2023 before protesters blocked contractors from continuing their work - which was later paused in March 2023 ahead of legal proceedings.

Developers said the project had "full planning permission" and was "part of essential works to deliver vital infrastructure improvements in Wellingborough".

Approval for the development was given by Conservative-controlled North Northamptonshire Council, with the avenue to be cleared to make way for a dual carriageway.

The Woodland Trust said a lime tree could be considered ancient at about 300 years old.

Residents have been protesting against the felling of ancient trees

What do the campaigners want?

The case is listed at the High Court on 30 April and 1 May and the Wellingborough Walks Action Group has called on its supporters to attend and "make their presence felt".

The group has raised tens of thousands of pounds to support legal costs.

Marion Turner-Hawes said she and the rest of the group wanted the developer to make tweaks to the design of the road layout to save the protected trees.

She said: "I just want to say a massive thank you to our amazing community. It just shows how important this natural amenity and these trees are to the people of Wellingborough and beyond.

"A lot of people are very interested in the case. It's going to be very significant for our whole community depending on what happens and also for other communities across the country.

"We have got to listen to communities. This is about listening to the people of this town - that have said loud and clear - we want these trees to be protected.

"We want this natural monument to be maintained. Clearly we want other amenities too, but we believe the two can happen at the same time - they are not mutually exclusive."

Campaigner Marion Turner-Hawes said the lime trees were a "natural monument"

What do the council and developers say?

A spokesperson for Stanton Cross Developments said they hoped for a "swift resolution".

They said the scheme was "part of a £1bn investment to the local area delivering 3,650 much needed, high-quality new homes, including affordable housing, along with over £200m in major infrastructure improvements".

They continued: "Creating communities and building homes people love is at the heart of everything we do. We will provide further information about what this legal process means for the scheme following the outcome of the judicial review."

North Northamptonshire Council leader Jason Smithers said the authority would "of course co-operate fully with the judicial review" but "do not feel that it would be appropriate to comment more specifically on the case at this time".

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