SIR — I feel I have to state my utter sadness, shock and anger at seeing the felling of the oak tree by Stogumber Station. It was one of the most majestic oaks in the area, and I estimate that it was roughly the same age as the West Somerset Railway line. This oak would have seen the line's construction, its boom period and its decline, and now its fine resurrection. This oak was part of the history of the railway line and was also an impressive landscape feature. I understand there was pressure to fell this fine tree due to health and safety reasons. As a profession, I work with trees, and I could see that one branch needed removing, but the felling of the complete tree was a travesty - there was no decay in the tree as the healthy stump proves. This tree could have lived for another 200 years. Removing this tree could also create a safety issue in the future, as the roots will have been stabilising the bank and when these rot there could be a landslide, as can be witnessed 300 yards down the line where some mature trees were removed. Jeremy Scott-Bolton, Stogumber.