Tree surgeon chopped down one of Britain's first redwood trees 'by mistake'

Arwyn Morgan, felled the 90ft tree at the Penllergaer estate in Swansea

But there was a tree preservation order in place to stop in being chopped down

Morgan pleaded guilty to contravening a tree preservation order

The firm who are developing the site and company boss Fiorenzo Sauro have pleaded not guilty

A blundering tree surgeon chopped down one of Britain's first ever giant redwoods 'by mistake' 176 years after it was planted, a court heard today.

Self-employed contractor Arwyn Morgan, 50, felled the historic tree at the Penllergaer Estate, Swansea to make way for a new housing estate.

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But a tree preservation order placed on the redwood, along with 70 other trees should have stopped it being chopped down.

Council records suggest the huge tree was planted up to 10 years before redwood seeds are credited with being brought to Britain from America.

Self-employed contractor Arwyn Morgan

Morgan felled the 90ft tree at the Penllergaer Estate, Swansea, which dates back 1842, to make way for new houses.

The tree was chopped down 'by mistake' by building firm Enzo's homes - who are developing 80 houses at the site next to the woods (shown)

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It was planted in 1842 by keen botanist John Dillwyn Llewelyn, who imported trees from all over the world, before it grew to 90ft in height with a 16ft in circumference.

Morgan was contracted to carry out the work by company Enzo Homes Ltd.

Prosecutor Annabel Graham Paul said Swansea Council received an anonymous phonecall in November last year saying trees had been felled.

Council tree officer Alan Webster visited the site and spotted the redwood was gone - along with other protected trees.

The sprawling redwood (shown) grew 90ft high and five metres in circumference at the forest site in South Wales

Environment bosses are investigating after the historic 176-year-old tree (pictured) brought from North America was felled at a new housing estate

Mr Webster said: 'Mr Morgan could not have done this alone. This felling would have needed planning.'

He told the court the cost of replacing the tree would be around £250,000 but added it was 'irreplaceable'.

The firm who are developing 80 houses at the site were also brought to court along with company boss Fiorenzo Sauro (pictured)

Mr Webster said: 'This is ancient woodland dating back hundreds of years. It is important.'

Morgan pleaded guilty to contravening a tree preservation order at Swansea magistrates.

He will be sentenced in September.

The firm who are developing 80 houses at the site were also brought to court along with company boss Fiorenzo Sauro.

Sauro and the firm have pleaded not guilty.

Speaking after the felling, Lee Turner, Penllergare Trust's general manager, said: 'We've got excellent records dating back the last couple of hundred years from when the Dillwyn Llewelyn family planted up the estate with these magnificent trees.

'The earliest one recorded was in 1842. We can see that from some of the family's diaries during the period.'

Tree expert Jeremy Barrell said the tree 'was likely to be one of the earliest introductions' of redwoods to the UK.

He said the 90ft-tall tree should have been designated a 'Grade-II Listed Heritage Tree' giving it the same status as a grade-II listed building.

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The trial continues.