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Family 'traumatised' after tree falls into garden

Amber Maceyin North Hykeham, near Lincoln
BBC A fallen, dead, light-brown tree laid across dark-grey decking and a patch of green grass in a garden on a new-build housing estate. Debris including smashed glass, tables and chairs can be seen. In the background, a fence has been flattened, revealing a narrow strip of land, covered in green vegetation, with another fence behind it. The houses of neighbours, which are built with red-brick and cream cladding, can be seen.BBC
The tree, on a narrow strip of land owned by Barratt Homes, knocked down a garden fence when it fell

A man says his family were "left traumatised" after a tree fell into his garden, narrowly missing his home.

Jerry Onyeri said the tree, which stood on a strip of land owned by Barratt Homes, "crashed" through a fence into his garden in North Hykeham, near Lincoln, during Storm Boelo on 25 October.

A neighbour said they reported concerns about the tree to FirstPort, a property management firm that maintains parts of the Barratt development, months before it fell.

Barratt said it had not been made aware of concerns, but apologised for the disruption and said the tree had been removed. FirstPort said it "proactively" managed trees on the development through "a programme of regular inspections".

Onyeri said the tree was dead and should have been removed before it was brought down during the storm, which brought widespread disruption to Lincolnshire.

"We woke up to find the place we call our sanctuary, smashed by this tree," he said.

"It could have hit anybody that was in its way and that person would not have survived. I worry for my children."

A man standing on damaged, dark-grey garden decking, with both arms stretched to his sides. He is wearing a black and cream overshirt over a white T-shirt and black trousers. He has short black hair and a cropped black beard. His right hand is touching the red-brick back wall of his house. His left hand is touching the tip of a fallen-down, dead, light-brown tree. Behind him is debris caused by the tree falling, including a clothes dryer and smashed glass.
Onyeri says his children are now scared to play in the garden

"It has left me and my family traumatised," Onyeri added.

"I can't even imagine how I would have felt, if I came out to see my little ones hurt."

He described a second tree on the narrow strip of Barratt-owned land to the rear of his property, as a "ticking time bomb".

After being contacted by the BBC, a spokesperson for Barratt said a full survey on remaining trees had been carried out and another tree had also been removed after being identified as dead.

A handful of other trees needed work, but posed no danger, and the firm would apply for a licence for a tree surgeon to trim them back, the spokesperson added.

Barratt would "work with the resident to resolve any damage to property caused by the incident".

A fallen-down, dead, light-brown tree which has smashed into grey decking laid across dark-grey decking and a patch of green grass in a garden on a new-build housing estate with the red-brick wall of a house in the background.
Damage to the garden, including a table, chairs and children's play equipment

A spokesperson for First Port said the company carried out regular surveys and maintenance work.

A tree survey was completed in April and the firm had been working with specialist contractors to make progress on recommended works.

"The incident is understood to have occurred during the recent storms, and we appreciate just how shocking this will have been for the family involved," the spokesperson said.

"We will be contacting them directly as we review the circumstances surrounding the incident."

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