legrandangle-lgm

A homeowner who is ‘severely allergic’ to a tree in her front garden has been told by the council not to cut it down.

Rachna Anderson, 41, says she has developed a painful allergy to a Scots pine tree in front of her home in Easton, Norwich.

She claims it gives her an unbearable burning sensation, redness and swelling in the face, making her afraid to come home.

Despite undergoing extensive medical testing and treatment over the past two years, doctors have been unable to identify any other allergies that may be responsible and her symptoms have only worsened.

Rachna is convinced that the tree is the cause, but because the tree is legally protected, she must ask permission to cut it down.

South Norfolk Council officials told her it was unlikely this would be allowed.

She said: “I am forced to sit in front of fans and endure the freezing cold to ease the burning sensation on my face. My face often feels like it is on fire, turns bright red and becomes unbearably swollen.

‘These symptoms are so severe that I feel trapped in my house, ashamed to go outside and drenched in fear. I have no social life and can’t make eye contact with people. If I can go on holiday, I’m afraid to come home.’

Rachna moved into her property with her husband and young daughter in 2022 and started noticing the unusual symptoms after just a few months.

Although mild at first, her condition has worsened over time and she now suffers from severe eye irritation, a swollen face and a ‘burning sensation’ every day.

She also says that the severity of these symptoms has necessitated two emergency anaphylactic interventions, requiring multiple courses of steroids.

She has been tested for several food allergies and even had a skin biopsy taken in an attempt to determine the cause of her reaction – all to no avail.

Rachna now believes the problem stems from a Scots pine in her front garden – a species known to cause reactions in some people – which is protected from felling by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).

This suspicion has been reinforced by travel to different cities and countries, with Rachna saying her symptoms disappeared within hours of leaving her home.

Rachna has now submitted an official planning application to South Norfolk Council seeking permission to fell the tree.

As she waits for an answer, she becomes frustrated by a lack of help from the council, as she feels she should get her rent back or be offered a new place if her request is denied.

She said: ‘This tree is causing serious health problems that have drastically affected my life, but my repeated requests to the council to remove the tree have been ignored. I have provided the council with substantial evidence, including medical records and photographic documentation, but no action has yet been taken.

‘My family and I deserve a safe and healthy living environment, but this tree makes that impossible. Despite my continued efforts, the council has not supported me and I feel let down in this critical health crisis.”

A spokesperson for South Norfolk Council said: ‘The council visited the site and held discussions with Ms Anderson. We understand that Mrs Anderson believes she is allergic to the tree and this is being investigated.

“The council has agreed to wait to make a decision until Ms. Anderson has the results of that investigation.”

Rachna has received the support of South Norfolk MP Ben Goldsborough, who has offered to ‘advocate’ on her behalf before the council’s planning committee.

If her request is rejected, Rachna said she might emigrate to Australia, but is reluctant to leave her home after investing more than £30,000 in upgrades including an improved driveway and solar panels.

Rachna said, “I can’t live with this. I want my life back.’

The planning application to remove the Scots pine is still pending and will be determined by South Norfolk Council in the near future.

Contact our news team by emailing [email protected].

For more stories like this, view our news page.

MORE: Map of Britain’s disposable income shows exactly how rich your neighbors are

MORE: Britain’s ‘picturesque paradise’ has been named one of the best places in the world for 2025