The Queen will have been left heartbroken when her head gardener was given permission to tear down nine trees in her country home – a year after she admitted: ‘I can’t bear to see trees falling’.
Paul Jellyman, who runs her private shelter Ray Mill, has applied to carry out work on nine trees in the conservation area.
The beautiful stone manor house in Wiltshire is known as Queen Camilla’s private home and is where she retreated after the state funeral and mourning period following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
It’s also where she spends as much time as possible when she doesn’t have to be at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire and Clarence House in London – the official homes she shares with King Charles.
And the nine trees being cut down could upset the Queen – last year she spoke of her loss after Mr Jellyman had to remove half the avenue of small-leaved lime trees along her driveway after planting them too close together.
The beautiful stone manor house in Wiltshire (pictured), known as Queen Camilla’s private home, is where she retreated after the state funeral and mourning period following Queen Elizabeth’s death.
The nine trees being hacked could upset Monarch (pictured) – last year she spoke of her loss when Mr Jellyman had to remove half the avenue of small-leaved lime trees along her driveway after planting them too close together
The enormous canopy of an ash tree – about to take shape – hangs over the Queen’s prized shepherd’s hut, where she was pictured with her Jack Russell terrier Beth in a royal family post last year to mark her 75th birthday .
A group of three willow trees due for severe pruning were sunk in the floodwaters of the River Avon
“Paul had to remove half of it, but while I was away I couldn’t bear to see any trees falling,” she told TV gardener Monty Don. Country life.
In an application made in April this year, images in the plans show their intention to sympathetically cut back on the stately trees that surround the stately home.
Many of the large trunks hang over the River Avon, which winds its way through the estate, while a group of three willows that were about to be severely pruned were pictured submerged in the floodwaters.
The huge canopy of an ash tree – about to take shape – hangs above the Queen’s prized shepherd’s hut, where she was pictured with her Jack Russell terrier Beth in a royal family post to mark her 75th birthday last year .
Mr Jellyman justified the work on the trees by saying they are necessary to ensure their continued health.
In an application to Wiltshire Council he wrote: ‘The attached tree works are intended to maintain health or longevity through: defective or diseased components, good structural integrity by removing individual dead, defective or diseased components.
‘Sympathetic pruning to minimize the chance of limb loss and improve the shape of the tree.
‘Management objectives and commonly applied pruning options to maintain health or longevity through good structural integrity of disease or pest control.’
Ray Mill is where Camilla spends as much time as possible when she doesn’t have to be at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire and Clarence House in London – the official homes she shares with King Charles
In an application made in April this year, images in the plans show their intention to sympathetically cut back on the stately trees that surround the stately home. In the photo: Alder tree that will be felled, left, and Oak tree where dead wood will be removed, right
Mr Jellyman justified the work on the trees by saying they are necessary to ensure their continued health. In the photo: Alder tree where dead wood will be removed, left, and Ash where the lower branch will be removed, right
There are no objections to the plans and the Queen has two years to implement them.
But she has been warned that despite the plans being approved, she must not damage or disturb the habitat or resting place of protected species.
The work included reducing and shaping an ash tree, removing a low branch from a second tree of the same species, and reducing, shaping and removing dead wood from a third.
One alder is completely felled, while dead wood is removed from a second.
Dead wood will also be removed from an oak tree, while three willows will be cut down.
Company Director of Place at Municipality Parvis Khansari said: “In exercise of its powers under the above Act, the Council hereby raises no objection to the above specified works to be carried out in accordance with the notification and the submitted plans.
“The works shall be carried out and completed within a period of two years from the date of this notice.”
The Queen Consort bought the Wiltshire home in the months leading up to her divorce from her first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles in 1994.
The Queen Consort bought the Wiltshire home in the months leading up to her divorce from her first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles in 1994.
With acres of gardens, stables, an outdoor swimming pool (pictured) and an elegant terrace framed by enormous windows, Ray Mill House is undeniably a home fit for a queen.
Camilla bought 17-acre Ray Mill for £850,000 from art historian Worthy Gilson and his wife
She lived there until 2005 and kept it as her country residence after her marriage to the then Prince Charles.
Bought for £850,000 at the time, it is probably worth considerably more now. According to the website home.co.uk, the price of luxury detached houses in Wiltshire has risen by more than 400 percent.
The country house reflects the Queen’s relaxed rural roots and is the place where Camilla can relax.
While just a 15 minute drive away in Highgrove, King Charles is said to be a stickler for cleanliness.
And the house clearly plays a special role for her family: Camilla’s daughter Laura chose to hold her wedding reception at the property when she married her accountant fiance Harry Lopes at St Cyriac’s church in the Wiltshire village of Lacock in 2006.