Woman ‘severely allergic’ to tree in front garden plans to leave country after council says she can’t remove it

A woman claiming to be ‘severely allergic’ to a tree in her front garden plans to leave the country after the council say she can’t remove it.

Rachna Anderson says she’s developed a painful allergy to the Scots pine tree, leaving her with ‘excruciating burning’, redness and swelling to her face.

‘Scared to come home to it’ on the outskirts of Norwich, the 41-year-old is convinced the tree is the cause.

Doctors haven’t been able to identity any other allergies that may be responsible after two years of extensive medical testing and health treatments with her symptoms worsening.

Anderson says it only happens when she’s home and so is convinced it’s the tree. But it's legally protected and the mum needs to apply to South Norfolk Council to get permission to chop it down which officials have told her is unlikely to be granted.

The woman says she feels ‘trapped’ in her home and is ‘embarrassed to go out’.

She has lived there for two years. (SWNS)

‘Forced’ to sit in front of fans to alleviate a burning sensation on her face, she added: “I have no social life and I can't make eye contact with people. When I am able to go on holiday I am scared to come home."

She moved into the place with her husband and young daughter back in 2022 with unusual symptoms appearing in just a few months.

Now she says she suffers every day and has had to have two anaphylactic emergency interventions, requiring multiple courses of steroids to manage.

READ MORE:

MUM DEVASTATED AFTER MISSING 'HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME' OVER 'TINY' PASSPORT ISSUE

UK'S YOUNGEST OMAZE WINNERS SAY WHAT THEY'LL DO WITH £3MILLION MANSION

Tests for food allergies and a skin biopsy found no cause and she finds her symptoms disappear when she leaves home for different cities and countries.

The Scots pine tree is known to cause reaction in some people, and Anderson has now submitted an official planning application to obtain permission to cut it down.

This remains under consideration but the woman is frustrated by the authority as she reckons it should reimburse her rent or offer her a new place to live if she is denied her request.

She said: "This tree is causing severe health issues that have drastically impacted my life, yet my repeated requests to the council for its removal have been disregarded.

The mum wants the tree gone. (SWNS)

"I have provided the council with substantial evidence, including medical records and photographic documentation, yet no action has been taken.”

Anderson says the tree has made it ‘impossible’ to have a ‘safe and healthy living environment’.

A spokesperson for South Norfolk Council said: "The council has visited the site and had discussions with Mrs Anderson.

"We understand that Mrs Anderson believes that she is allergic to the tree and that this is being investigated. The council has agreed to hold off making a decision until Mrs Anderson has the results of those investigations."

South Norfolk MP Ben Goldsborough is supporting Anderson and offered to ‘advocate’ for her in front of the council's planning committee.

But if Anderson’s bid is unsuccessful she says she’ll consider emigrating to Australia.

“I can’t live with this, I want my life back,” she added.

The Andersons are reluctant to leave their home after having invested more than £30,000 in upgrades including an improved driveway and solar panels.