Weekly round-up: Five stories you may have missed

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Protected trees are being felled as a "cheap and easy option" in subsidence claims, an arboricultural group has said

Getty Images Logs on a lawn near a block of flats — Protected trees are being felled as a "cheap and easy option" in subsidence claims, an arboricultural group has said

Protected trees being felled to save money and crop circles in fields being branded "criminal damage" were among our most read stories this week.

We have picked five articles from the past seven days in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Berkshire and Oxfordshire to keep you up to date.

Protected trees felled to save money, group says

Chris Packham said he was "horrified" Tree Preservation Orders could be "rendered useless...on account of someone's crumbling conservatory"

Chris Packham stands next to a mature oak tree, surrounded by other trees and grass. He has back-combed, grey hair and wears a top with horizontal black and brown stripes. — Chris Packham said he was "horrified" Tree Preservation Orders could be "rendered useless...on account of someone's crumbling conservatory"

An investigation into the number of trees being felled as a "cheap and easy option" in subsidence claims was one of the most read stories in Hampshire.

The London Tree Officers Association (LTOA) said trees were being felled across the country because councils were afraid of being liable for expensive property repairs.

Councils in England have given permission to fell more than 1,000 trees which previously had Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs).

The BBC analysed 143 Freedom of Information request responses from councils in England. Of those, 10 directly provided figures for the financial years between 2019 and 2024, showing permission was granted to fell 1,403 previously protected trees.

TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham said he was "horrified" by the idea that TPOs could be "rendered useless... on account of someone's crumbling conservatory".

Island Games fever takes hold in transformed Orkney

Anna Tait - a double gold medal winner in 2017 - travelled home to Orkney from America to compete in the Island Games

A woman with long, curly brown hair swept to one side stands in front of a red athletics track. She is wearing a red tracksuit top. — Anna Tait - a double gold medal winner in 2017 - travelled home to Orkney from America to compete in the Island Games

Elsewhere on the Isle of Wight, Orkney underwent a huge transformation for the largest international multi-sport event to take place in the UK this year.

Hundreds of volunteers, businesses and accommodation providers spent much of the week making final preparations before the opening ceremony for the Island Games on Saturday.

The event is comparable in size, in terms of competitor numbers, to the Winter Olympics, but has been planned by and will be delivered mainly by volunteers - with just three people employed by Orkney 2025.

Farmers facing losses over crop circle damage

A spider motif appeared on farmland near Cerne Abbas on Thursday morning

Dorset Police A drone image of a crop circle in a wheat field. The image is of a stylised spider made from a series of interlocking circles. The abdomen is created using a basket weave effect using the wheat. — A spider motif appeared on farmland near Cerne Abbas on Thursday morning

In Dorset, crop circles in fields were branded as "criminal damage" by police and farmers.

A spider motif appeared on farmland near Cerne Abbas on Thursday morning. Dorset Police appealed for information, saying the stunt had damaged crops.

PC Kate Schofield said: "This act of criminal damage has had a significant financial impact on the farmer."

The phenomena of mysterious formations appearing in fields peaked in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Sir Stanley Spencer's belongings sold by grandson at auction

Sir Stanley was pictured while working on his work The Crucifixion, which he completed for Aldenham School's chapel in Hertfordshire

Getty Images Sir Stanley, with grey hair, glasses, a paintbrush, and a dark suit, in front of his work, which includes a fierce-looking character behind him looking enraged. — Sir Stanley was pictured while working on his work The Crucifixion, which he completed for Aldenham School's chapel in Hertfordshire

Items that belonged to one of the leading figures in British art between the World Wars, along with some of his work, were sold at auction in Berkshire.

Some of Sir Stanley Spencer's sketchbooks, a palette and a Bible given to him while he served as a soldier in World War One were amongst those put up for sale by his grandson John Spencer.

Mr Spencer said he was struggling for space for all of the items, having grown up with them in Cookham.

Sir Stanley became synonymous with the village, where he was born, and his most famous works are perhaps biblical scenes he set there.

Band plays surprise gig after Eurostar breaks down

Oxford band Stornoway were on board the train which came to a stop somewhere outside Guînes, France

Stornoway Stornoway gather on the railway sidings. Oli is holding his guitar case. Dozens of passengers are gathered behind them. — Oxford band Stornoway were on board the train which came to a stop somewhere outside Guînes, France

A band played a surprise gig for Eurostar passengers to lighten a stressful situation after their train broke down for more than eight hours.

Oxford indie folk band Stornoway were on board the 07:52 BST Brussels to London train on Sunday, which came to a stop about two hours into its journey somewhere outside Guînes, France.

With rising temperatures and no power, working toilets, or air conditioning, the band decided to take up their instruments and play a show outside the train to pick up flagging spirits.

Eurostar has apologised for the breakdown and said it was carrying out a full investigation.

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