AN oak tree in Coleford which was grown from an acorn by a well-known local doctor and author could be made the subject of a preservation order.

The tree at Kings Meade commemorates the life of Dr Bill Tandy, who worked in India before coming to the Forest where he worked as a GP and as an assistant surgeon at the Dilke and Lydney hospitals.

He also published two books about his experiences, Doctor in the Forest which was published in 1978 and The Ever Rolling Stream, published in 1985.

The Forest Council made a temporary tree preservation order on May 18, which must be confirmed within six months for it to remain in force.

The matter will be considered by the council’s planning committee at its meeting on Tuesday, (September 12) as there has been an objection to making the order permanent.

The council says the tree is of cultural importance because of its links to Dr Tandy and has the potential to become of ‘high amenity value’ to the area.

The objector says that there is “no justifiable reason” to single out the oak which is “little more than a sapling” as having any significance.

It is also claimed the order was made to restrict access to the adjoining land.

The order is supported by members of Dr Tandy’s family and by the Reading the Forest project which is part of the wider Foresters’ Forest partnership.

They claim it is significant to the heritage of the Forest and it will form part of a literary trail around the Dean.

Among the representations made to the council, it is claimed that: “Dr Tandy’s legacy is of growing importance and this tree forms (a) powerful commemoration of his memory to his family , the wider community and those interested in the literary heritage of the Forest of Dean.”

The recommendation to the planning committee is that the preservation order is made without modification.

The order would make cutting down, lopping, uprooting, damaging or destroying the tree without consent an offence.