I am an arborist working in Cornwall, since 1999. I was called to remove some trees from a piece of land my client had just bought. His new neighbour wanted the land but was outbid, and his bitterness about this has ended up with ME in court. I am going to be ruined by this, and cannot afford a barrister. The case revolved around the cutting of four trees, two were dead, one was hazard to the road and one was in the way of my clients new building. They are in a former garden. The forestry commission and DEFRA want to prosecute me under the forestry act which applies  to living trees which are not in a garden. I have now spent nearly £6000 defending myself for a crime I haven't committed, purely from being a pawn in wealthy peoples' games. My client pushed me into taking this route to bolster his argument against a restocking notice, promising me help with half my fees, and washed his hands of me after the initial hearing.

I am trying to raise £20k as I tried to defend myself after counsel required £15k UP FRONT, and it fast became clear in the last hearing (adjourned thankfully) that I am NOT capable of this. I will lose EVERYTHING if I cannot defend myself, my business will go under, which employs around up to ten people, and my kids and I would be homeless, all because of the actions of a disgruntled neighbour. 

I have had three hearings so far, the next is in March, where I will be defending myself (doomed to failure) if I cannot raise the funds for counsel. I believe I have a very strong case (I have photos of the dead trees that the forestry commission say were alive!!!!), and of course any monies recovered or not used get returned to the donors, however without the help I will most certainly fall foul of this vexatious prosecution, which is nothing but an exercise in petty revenge from the neighbour, it certainly wont mean he sees four large trees in the land across the road from him ever again. It will only serve to ruin my and my familys' lives, loss of jobs for my employees and waste court time and public money.

I am trying to raise enough to cover solicitor and cousel's fees. 

PLEASE help. 

THANK YOU!