---
title: "Holland resident heartbroken after her coconut tree of 20 years gets chopped down while she’s overseas"
url: "/singapore-seen/holland-gardens-resident-heartbroken-after-her-coconut-tree-20-years-gets-chopped-down-while-shes"
published: "2026-10-28T10:32:54.000Z"
updated: "2026-10-29T02:51:59.000Z"
section: "Singapore Seen"
authors: ["Cherlynn Ng"]
tags: ["neighbour","tree","damage","Singapore Seen","Holland Gardens"]
---

# Holland resident heartbroken after her coconut tree of 20 years gets chopped down while she’s overseas

Stomper Lee had been growing a coconut tree outside her semi-detached house in the Holland area for almost 20 years.

She was thus horrified when she returned home from Shanghai on Oct 21 and learnt that her beloved tree had been chopped down — without her prior knowledge or consent.

The resident had another shock when the contractor showed her a permit allowing said works. It was dated Sept 12, 2024 — more than two years ago.

“They should have informed me so that I had a chance to shift the tree inside my house,” said Lee, who alleged that she did not receive any notice about the issue, be it recently or in the past two years.

“I am very sad and angry.”

The Stomper said her next-door neighbour had bought his house and stayed there for only a year, before moving out to redevelop it for sale.

As constructions works are nearly complete, according to Lee, she wonders why her tree was only chopped down now.

![Holland resident’s 20-year coconut tree removed](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/a23e4f1af6ed3ad83efa7dd3cfada6367accfa2d6cb15cc3d00b3cbabb5adaf9)
*The Stomper alleged that the tree was chopped down without her knowledge and permission.*

“My neighbour had already planned more than two years ago to chop down my tree and did not bother to inform me,” she lamented.

“His architect should have notified me earlier and I could have been given the option to replant this tree inside my garden. But they just chopped down my tree and told me to refer to the National Parks Board (NParks).

Lee recorded a video showing the site of her coconut tree, which she said had been by her gate and well within her boundary.

“The original gate of my neighbour’s house was not near my tree, but he shifted his gate right to the boundary wall of my house because of fengshui,” she told Stomp.

“This should not have been approved if it was going to affect or be within distance of such a good and fruitful coconut tree. Now my tree is totally gone.”

## A special coconut tree that bore fruit

Lee, who has been living in the estate for over two decades, shared how much the tree meant to her.

In the early 2000s, she had paid a gardener to plant the tree when she first moved in.

“It is a hybrid and special type of tree that does not grow too tall, so it is easy to pluck the fruits,” she said.

“I had also been giving coconuts to the rubbish truck man for years. Even my grandchildren loved watching squirrels taking refuge in the tree with so many fruits.”

![Holland resident’s 20-year coconut tree removed](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/95115dce3161a9bab7d1e7bb7472d2943341012c60374ec59f62aa7d8e735ee6)
*The tree meant a lot to the resident.*

According to Lee, the tree was healthy, thriving and “fruitful”. It also provided shade.

“It’s really horrible to come home from overseas to see the tree chopped down suddenly,” she said, adding that she hopes to seek help and raise awareness by sharing the incident with Stomp.

“I wish to bring attention to this case so as to urge all relevant authorities to work together before giving approval to anyhow chop down a healthy tree.”

## Frustrated resident seeks accountability

The Stomper clarified that she was not blaming the authorities. Rather, she feels that the incident could have been avoided if there had been better communication among all parties involved.

“I think the house owner and the contractor have to be held accountable,” she said. “Finally, the construction is almost over, but now I am smacked with the sacrifice of my tree.”

![Holland resident’s 20-year coconut tree removed](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/4c9957b6331a589e49cbc23417eea32249c37b50a406c40aaaa3cb99d7848d2e)
*The site where the coconut tree used to be.*

According to screenshots seen by Stomp, NParks told Lee that it had reached out to the contractor to explore the possibility of planting a replacement coconut tree within her premises.

As of Oct 28, a “very upset” Lee said she has yet to receive a satisfactory response. She plans to speak to the authorities and her MP this week.

![Holland resident’s 20-year coconut tree removed](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/da3689858e3045c3d7ee38f4ecb39611ca60e51fe8260d948288f2037907f01b)
*NParks told the resident it had reached out to the contractor to explore the possibility of planting a replacement coconut tree within her premises.*

![Holland resident’s 20-year coconut tree removed](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/05f2c587f70798025788f9b36f19d36a461625ea99509ec821cc3192cc8d5102)
*NParks told the resident it had reached out to the contractor to explore the possibility of planting a replacement coconut tree within her premises.*

“I am frustrated. This is terrible,” Lee told Stomp.

“They will never be able to find a coconut tree of 20 years as a replacement. It was a living plant and there is also this thing called sentimental attachment.”

Stomp has contacted NParks for more info.