“This is the Cotswolds - not Dubai”: Villagers’ fury over palm trees in one of ‘UK’s prettiest streets’
A war of words has broken out in a pretty Cotswold village over palm trees some residents say would be better suited to Dubai or Benidorm.
Palm trees in a Cotswolds street named among the prettiest in England have caused uproar among locals, despite being in place for two decades. Villagers claim the trees are unsightly, and said “this is the Cotswolds - not Dubai”.
While locals slammed the palms - in the garden of a house being renovated in picturesque Bibury, Oxfordshire - others have confirmed the trees have been there for “well over 20 years”.
Renovation work at the house, at Awkward Hill, has been ongoing since 2023, with the trees exposed during landscaping work in the gardens. Neighbours in Arlington Row claim the project has caused constant noise and disruption, and that the trees are “so out of place” and more in-keeping with places like Dubai and Benidorm.
But Matthew Hollingsworth, of Spirit Architecture Ltd, said: “One commenter refers to the palm trees on site, this is an odd comment as these have been there for well over 20 years and my client has tried to retain these as they are part of the history of the building.”
Bibury resident and author Victoria Summerley - who lives next door - has responded to comments the applicant’s architect made about the palm trees, claiming almost everything else in that part of the garden has been removed, leaving the palm trees particularly noticeable.
"Matthew Hollingsworth is absolutely right about the palm trees," she said. "They were planted by a previous neighbour who was living here when I moved to Bibury in 2012."
She added how tourists often comment about the two palm trees in the garden of Rosemary Cottage in Awkward Hill, Bibury, which can be seen sticking up above the cottage wall.
"Because these are the only two trees left standing here, they are particularly noticeable, and the fairy lights on them make them even more noticeable still," she went on.
Meanwhile, people have taken it to social media to share their thoughts on the decorated palm trees, with some defending them and others saying it looks "awful". One said: "Looks like Dubai on your doorstep!”, while another said, "They look fab!"
A third added how they would "look better in Benidorm, Spain", with a fourth saying "it's amazing they have survived for so long in the UK climate. Shame to chop them down. They look great."
Ms Summerley added: “I don't think anyone with any sense could argue that two tall palm trees enhance or preserve the character of a three-bed cottage in the Cotswolds."
The homeowners are said to be a wealthy couple from Turkey, with work on the house dubbed 'war zone' renovations which have left some desperate neighbours wanting to sell their homes, which are generally worth more than £1 million.
They claim the works - which the couple started after purchasing the house for £1.1m in 2022 - have made their lives 'sheer hell' with constant noise, disruption and traffic issues.