20 July 2026 , 19:39
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It was a sapling around the time King Henry VIII was writing love letters to Anne Boleyn.
But now an ancient oak at the bottom of Jean Harris’s garden could be reduced to timber to make way for the planned Hereford bypass.
The 79-year-old retired school secretary and piano teacher says she fears the plans won’t just destroy the 500-year-old tree – she thinks it will wipe out vital wildlife habitats.
However, the widow, who owns the land the oak has stood on proudly for centuries in Allensmore, Herefordshire, is refusing to sell.
The grandmother-of-three said: ‘It’s very old, about 500 years or so, and in perfect condition. Why would you want to ruin that?
‘You can see it from the roads and it is definitely a landmark for us around here.’
The bypass is designed to reroute the A49 around Hereford in order to improve congestion in the city centre, which gets clogged up daily.
The plan was originally given the green light in 2015, but Jean argues that rules have been tightened since then and building a 60mph road at the bottom of her garden isn’t the answer.
She said: ‘We get lots of bats and owls, there’s lots of wildlife around here. It’s a key area for all wildlife and to lose it would be catastrophic.’
Jean also fears that the two-mile £45million Southern Link Road will create noise around the clock in the peaceful three-bedroom bungalow she’s lived in since 2003.
She said: ‘It’s been called the Southern Link road, but it doesn’t do anything to alleviate heavy traffic in Hereford. All I will hear 24 hours a day is road noise. It’ll be an absolute nightmare.
‘Lorries or big vehicles will create lots of loud noises, and the vibration will be horrible. It will be horrendous. There will be an embankment of the road where the end of the garden would be, so it’d effectively be right next to the house.’
This, she fears, means her £575,000 home will become unsellable.
Jean said: ‘I am quite concerned about that. We bought it 23 years ago for £175,000. I had my eye on it for a long time before we bought it; it was our dream home. The family all love it.
‘I have no plans to sell up, and it’s just as well because who would want to buy a property right next to a busy bypass?’
Jean says she has flatly refused to discuss selling any of her land and has not entered negotiations with Herefordshire Council.
The fight has become even more personal after the recent death of her husband, Michael.
Rough estimates value the 4,000sq ft section of land required from Jean’s garden at more than £58,000. But she remains determined to stand her ground.
Herefordshire Council chiefs say they are prepared to press ahead, even if it means forcing Jean to give up the land through a compulsory purchase.
A spokesperson said: ‘Most landowners have either agreed terms for the sale of their land or are close to reaching an agreement.
‘In one case, discussions were paused by agreement to allow the landowner additional time, and we remain committed to working constructively to reach a voluntary agreement. Alongside these discussions, the council has begun the compulsory purchase process where required.
‘This is a normal part of delivering major infrastructure projects and ensures the land needed for the scheme can be secured if voluntary agreements cannot be reached.’
Politics Editor