British lady contemplating transferring to Australia to get away from a tree she is allergic to

On Dec 9, 2024

A British woman is considering moving to Australia to get away from a tree that she is allergic to.

Rachna Anderson, 41, says she has developed a painful allergy to the Scots pine tree at the front of her property in Easton, on the outskirts of Norwich.

She claims it leaves her with excruciating burning, redness and swelling to the face and has made her “scared to come home”.

Despite undergoing extensive medical testing and treatments over the last two years, doctors have not been able to identify any other allergies that might be responsible and her symptoms have only worsened.

Rachna is convinced the tree is the cause, as she has been able to rule out other possible sources and the symptoms only persist when she is at home.

The problem is, it’s a protected tree and therefore she is only allowed to cut it down if the council gives her permission — and it is “unlikely” that it will.

She said: “I am forced to sit in front of fans, enduring the freezing cold to alleviate the burning sensation on my face.

“My face often feels like it is on fire, turns bright red and becomes unbearably swollen.

“These symptoms are so severe that I feel trapped in my home, embarrassed to go out and riddled with anxiety.

“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.”

Due to their being a TPO (Tree Preservation Order) on the pine, the council has the right to refuse her request to have it felled, despite it being in her own garden.

Rachna is currently waiting on a decision from the council and if it’s a no, she says she will consider emigrating to Australia.

She said: “I can’t live with this. I want my life back.”

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