CHISLEHURST: Owner speaks of protected tree struck by lightning (From News Shopper)

CHISLEHURST: Owner speaks of protected tree struck by lightning

9:50am Thursday 9th July 2009

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THE OWNER of a protected tree struck by lightning believes his family had a lucky escape.

Don Forsyth of Mead Road, Chislehurst, was at home when the cedar tree, thought to be 250 years old, was split down the middle at around 1.15pm on July 7.

Residents in nearby houses were evacuated and the road had to be closed.

The father of three said: “I was sitting at my computer and it blew up.

“We are very upset, it is the last thing we wanted to happen.”

The tree, which is in a conservation area, was considered as ‘protected’ by Bromley Council as it is historic and adds to the character of the area.

Mr Forsyth, who is a managing director of an advertising agency, said that after the lightning struck the family had no internet, television or telephone line.

The 51-year-old added: “I am relieved because it could have been a lot worse, we were lucky in that respect.

“We were very lucky it did not split in half but I feel quite depressed about it to be honest, it looked lovely and gave us a lot of privacy.”

Mr Forsyth, who has lived in the house with his family for 23 years, said there were branches falling which were 6ft to 8ft wide.

He added: “They could have killed somebody.”

Because of the extent of the damage the tree had to be cut down.

Tree surgery specialists, JJ & B TREECARE, cut the tree down the next day (July 8).

Boss, Joe Winder, said he believed the tree was about 70ft tall.

Mr Winder said: “It is a terrible shame that it has been struck.

“In extreme cases like this we have to cut it down.”

Mr Forsyth said he is going to try and replace the tree.

On the same day firefighters across the borough were called to countless incidents of flooding in homes to help residents pump water out their houses.

A Bromley Council spokesman said: “It is estimated that we received three months rainfall in three hours which placed severe pressure on the service water drainage systems.”

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