Wivenhoe protest take fight to Aviva'a HQ
Campaigners hoping to save a historic 170-year-old tree that faces the chop have 'taken the fight' to insurance giant Aviva at its UK HQ - accusing the firm of secrecy in its push to have the oak pulled down.
See a report by the Daily Mail on the protest here.
The Old King George Oak (aged at 170+ years) is threatened by a subsidence claim by Aviva - the insurance company for 2 of the nearby houses, that are suffering from movement. Aviva are insisting that the trees, which are on council land must be felled.
The council are custodians of the trees (not the owners).
Aviva made Wivenhoe Town Council (WTC) sign a non disclosure form before showing any of their investigations and are now forcing WTC to be liable for any movement or damage to the homes in question.
The reality is that many of the other homes in this terrace have already been underpinned, the cause of movement - having very shallow foundations, properties built on a very steep railway siding and being exceptionally close to the working railway, which now has heavier and faster trains running on this line than in the past.
Removing the tree is NOT going to solve the movement issues, it may actually make the situation worse.
Furthermore, at least one of these homeowners is fighting Aviva's decision to fell the trees.
In January 2025, WTC, without being transparent or open with the people of Wivenhoe, planned to fell the trees, this was thwarted by the action of people sitting 24-hour vigil over (well under) the tree throughout January and February. WTC eventually allowed campaigners 6 weeks to get their own investigation done who subsequently produced via many disciplines a 140+ page document, showing that the tree is not the primary cause of movement and will not solve the issue.
In November 2025, WTC informed locals that they had considered the evidence (which they will not disclose) and taken legal advice (which all appears to be from Aviva) that they have to fell the trees by the end of February 2026.
The campaign, Old King George Oak 'Stop the chop' organised a protest outside Aviva's headquarters in London, on 9th December to request Aviva to be transparent and find a fair solution.