Wells Little Theatre tree to take its final bow

By Laura Linham 24th Jul 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 1 hour ago

Wells Little Theatre has confirmed that its protected London Plane tree will be removed from the theatre car park after Somerset Council granted consent. The theatre said the decision follows years of investigations, professional advice, maintenance work and efforts to find a way of keeping the much-loved tree in place.

The tree, protected by a Tree Preservation Order, has been part of the theatre's setting for many years. But roots had been identified beneath paving at a neighbouring property and within nearby drainage infrastructure, leaving trustees with a grimly familiar Wells dilemma: preserve a cherished local feature, or deal with the damage quietly spreading below ground.

Because the tree is protected, the theatre had to submit a formal application before any work could go ahead. Somerset Council assessed the case and granted consent for the tree to be felled to prevent further root damage to drains.

The theatre also sought advice through its insurers. Following investigation of the claim, including specialist soil testing and arboricultural assessment, they advised that the tree should now be removed to minimise the risk of further damage and potential future liabilities.

A spokesperson for Wells Little Theatre said: "This is one of the most difficult decisions the theatre has had to make. The London Plane tree has been a beautiful and much-loved feature of the theatre for many years and has become part of the landscape of Wells. We know many people will be saddened by its removal, and we share those feelings ourselves.

"Over a number of years we have sought professional advice, undertaken investigations, regularly maintained and pruned the tree and considered alternatives to removal. Unfortunately, none of those measures addressed the underlying problems, and after several years of research and discussions, the trustees have concluded that removal, in accordance with the insurers' advice, is now the responsible course of action."

The theatre said it has tried to balance the interests of neighbours, the wider community and the charity itself throughout the process. As a long-established local charity, it said trustees also had to consider professional advice, the risk of further damage and their responsibility to protect the theatre's resources.

The spokesperson added: "We have always tried to be a good neighbour and to balance the interests of everyone affected. The trustees must also take account of professional advice, the risk of further damage and their responsibility to protect the charity and its resources. This has never been about taking the easiest option.

"It has been about taking a responsible and proportionate decision after careful consideration of the available options.

"While we have to say goodbye to the tree itself, we hope its story doesn't end here. We are exploring ways to reuse the timber to create a lasting feature within the theatre, allowing part of this much-loved tree to remain at the heart of Wells Little Theatre for many years to come.

"We know not everyone will agree with this decision, but we hope people will understand that it has been made with genuine sadness, after years of careful thought, expert advice and consideration of the alternatives available to us."