In her letter (August 4) Sally Hurst raises the problem of withering leaves on oak trees and asked if anyone else has a similar condition.

I, too, have that problem on my huge oak tree in my back garden. When the same thing happened two or three years ago, I invited my local council to check it because I was afraid (and still am) that this huge tree will demolish my house should it ever fall. Their tree preservation department merely commented that the climate had been dry and the tree “was under stress” – had I tried watering it, I was asked!

This year, I can see that the upper side of the leaves tend to shrivel and turn green with a mildew appearance and are falling to the ground already.

I’m reluctant to ask for assistance again in case spraying the 100ft high monster with fungicide is recommended.

D LILL, Chandler’s Ford .