More than 100,000 sign petition to save 'Darwin Oak'

Campaigners have fought to prevent the felling of nine trees, including the so-called Darwin Oak

More than 100,000 people have signed a petition to save a 550-year-old tree known as The Darwin Oak.

It is one of nine large trees due to be felled to make way for Shrewsbury's North West Relief Road.

The tree was given its name two years ago because it stands close to where Charles Darwin was born.

Shropshire Council has said its plans for the road include substantial replanting.

Tree campaigner Rob McBride, who set up the petition, said the route of the planned bypass should be altered to avoid the trees.

The petition asks Shropshire Council to drop its plans to cut down the trees and Mr McBride said it would not cost much to change the route of the road at this "early stage".

He said the young Charles Darwin, "walked extensively along the banks of the River Severn" and would have known the tree, which would have been over 300 years old at the time.

"Almost certainly, he would have sat under or even clambered up the spreading boughs of this majestic ancient oak tree, perhaps contemplating his future famous scientific works," he said.

Tree campaigner Rob McBride has asked for the route of the relief road to be changed

Mr McBride said the felling of the veteran trees would go against the government's own National Planning Policy Framework.

He also argued the planned road would "decimate one of the last vestiges of beautiful countryside" in the area.

Plans for the relief road, which will take traffic out of Shrewsbury town centre were conditionally approved by Shropshire councillors in October.

They will consider the environmental conditions to be imposed on Thursday, with a full business case due to be drawn up later this year.

The planning report considered by councillors said the loss of the trees was "of concern" as they were "irreplaceable".

But it also said a "compensation strategy and substantial mitigation" would include replacing veteran trees with six times as many young ones.