Over 200 years ago, when a young Charles Darwin may have played in its branches, this majestic oak tree was already 300 years old.
Now 550 years old, Darwin’s Oak and eight other ancient trees will be felled to make way for the £80 million ($97.3m) Shrewsbury North West Relief Road (NWRR).
Despite months of opposition, it only took a narrow vote on the Shropshire planning committee to condemn the trees to destruction.
Advocates for the road say it will connect the North and West of the town, reducing congestion and boosting the economy.
However, campaigners and local opposition groups say the move risks devastating an important piece of green space.
Now 550 years old, Darwin’s Oak and eight other ancient trees will be felled to make way for the £80 million ($97.3m) Shrewsbury North West Relief Road (NWRR)
The proposed bypass will connect north and west Shrewsbury, and will pass close to the Hencott Wood and Pool Sight of Special Scientific Interest
The tree, now known as Darwin’s Oak, stands in a ‘green wedge’ of undeveloped land which extends into the town centre.
Not far from Darwin’s childhood home, it is believed that Darwin may have visited the tree during his frequent walks in the Shrewsbury countryside.
With a girth of 23ft (seven metres), the enormous tree would certainly have been almost impossible for the young naturalist to miss.
However, opposition groups say the newly approved NWRR will bisect this green wedge and threaten a number of important ecological sites.
In addition to destroying 2.5 miles (four kilometres) of hedgerows, the road will also be built feet from four local wildlife sites.
The road will pass by an ancient woodland site, Hencott Pool, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the extremely important Ramsar Wetland.
The Woodland Trust, a forestry conservation group, says that the decision goes against national planning laws that protect ancient trees.
Jack Taylor, lead campaigner for the Woodland Trust, said: ‘Just weeks after the iconic Sycamore Gap tree was lost, we are now faced with the loss of another iconic tree.’
The approval of the road is a ‘dark day for the environment and our natural heritage as it threatens the loss of this living legend, numerous other irreplaceable veteran trees, and will damage nearby ancient woodland,’ Mr Taylor told MailOnline.
Darwin’s Oak will now be felled after standing for over 500 years to make way for a new bypass road outside of Shrewsbury
Dan Morris, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member of highways, said: ‘I absolutely accept that the NWRR divides opinions, but I’m confident that it will make a huge difference to people, not only within the town, but also in the surrounding villages.
‘It will help unlock further opportunities for growth, and boost business here in Shropshire by improving transport links and using materials available on our doorstep to build it, and creating more high-skilled, well-paid jobs that our county needs.’
The council has proposed to plant 345,000 new trees, one for each Shropshire resident, and says that the bypass will have a positive effect on the environment.
In a statement, Shropshire Council said the road will improve air quality by reducing traffic in the town centre and by creating a new network of cycling routes.
However, air quality consultant Mark Broomfield has previously warned that the council has not properly considered the impacts of the road on Hencott Pool which is protected under UK law.
This could lead to a legal challenge being brought against the council and the decision being overturned if it could be shown that the council had not sufficiently assessed the air pollution impact.
Fresh opposition to the decision has already begun to organise, with a petition to overturn the approval gaining almost 5,000 signatures in three days.
Rob McBride, a tree campaigner who launched the petition, told The Guardian: ‘It all ties in with Darwin’s theory of evolution, there’s too many dinosaurs on that committee.
‘It’s a majestic, impressive tree. You can see it straight across the meadow as you come near the River Severn.
‘[It’s] just a brilliant landmark tree that many people, many residents use … to find solace and to connect with nature.’
The news comes shortly after the famous Hadrian’s Wall Gap tree was felled between September 27 and 28.
The 300-year-old Sycamore tree was cut down overnight in what the police believe was a deliberate act of vandalism.
However, scientists believe that the tree could regrow from the stump or be regrown as a clone.