Jeremy Clarkson’s Latest Clash with Council Over Diddly Squat Farm Trees

In a recent revelation, Jeremy Clarkson expressed his frustration over being at odds with the local council concerning tree planting at his Diddly Squat farm. This incident adds another chapter to the ongoing disputes Clarkson has had with the authorities since taking over the farm in 2019.

Key Takeaways:

• Jeremy Clarkson, famed TV host and journalist, is embroiled in a fresh dispute with West Oxfordshire District Council over his tree-planting plans at Diddly Squat farm. He received a letter from the council advising him to reduce the scope of his tree-planting project.
• The council’s suggestion, following Clarkson’s planning application for a car park at his farm, was to use a 3m-high hedge and smaller trees like crab apple and field maple saplings, deeming the large trees unnecessary.
• Mr. Clarkson has faced multiple planning hurdles with the council in the past, including issues regarding his restaurant plans and farm track construction. His popular show, Clarkson’s Farm, documents these ongoing challenges, with a fourth season confirmed by Amazon.

TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson has found himself in another tussle with his local council, this time over plans to plant trees at his Diddly Squat farm in Chipping Norton. The dispute comes as the latest in a series of confrontations with the West Oxfordshire District Council since Clarkson took over the farm in 2019.

Clarkson criticised the government’s housing policies, particularly those proposed by Environment Secretary Steve Barclay. He sarcastically remarked:

“We start building little wooden houses, like beach shacks, for families to live in. I find that incredibly defeatist but tragically, indicative of the times…”

In his column for the Sunday Times, Clarkson detailed the council’s response to his tree-planting plans:

“I recently received a missive from West Oxfordshire district council telling me that my plans to plant some trees must be scaled back. I’m not making that up, by the way.”

This response was linked to his March planning application for constructing a car park near his popular farm shop. A council officer suggested a simpler landscaping solution, saying:

“There does not appear to be a need for so many potentially very large trees along the boundary hedging around the car park.”

Local councillor Dean Temple acknowledged Clarkson’s unique spin on the situation:

“I don’t begrudge Mr Clarkson spinning it into a humorous article. I’ve long been a fan of his written work and found his prose a delight. I appreciate the irony he says but I also can see where the council officer is coming on this.”

Since taking over Diddly Squat Farm, Clarkson has had several clashes with the council. His show, “Clarkson’s Farm,” documents these disputes, including his failed attempts to convert a lambing barn into a restaurant and to build a farm track. However, he did succeed in July to win a planning appeal for a 70-space car park, which saw high demand upon opening.

Despite these challenges, Clarkson’s plans for a restaurant were denied as they were deemed too “harmful” to the local area. Expressing his exasperation on Talk TV, Clarkson said:

“I don’t know what you have to do, but I simply can’t get planning permission for anything, which is infuriating.”

Fans of Clarkson can look forward to more of his farming adventures as “Clarkson’s Farm” is set to return for a fourth season.