Tree at Shrewsbury's Quarry Park cut down for safety reasons
It has stood for more than 100 years but one of Shrewsbury's most well loved trees has been felled over safety concerns.
The hornbeam near to the Quarry's play park is one of the town's most popular and picturesque trees, with its twisting branches having provided perfect climbing material for generations of children.
However, Shrewsbury Town Council said that a three-year programme of efforts to save the tree, which partly overhangs the new splash park, have failed. Branches have also fallen from the tree in recent months, leading to the decision to fell it.
The council says it will plant a new hornbeam in the tree's place in the coming months.
Councillor Andrew Bannerman, who represents Quarry and Coton Hill, said it was a sad decision but one which needed to be taken.
He said: "I noticed it when I first arrived in the town in the 1970s as a remarkable looking tree because it has these twisting strong looking limbs and it was good climbing tree in that respect.
"It is very sad."
Council officer Steve Shields said that considerable efforts have been made to save the tree over the past three years.
However, he said it had failed to respond to the treatment and the work needed to be completed.
He said: "Two branches have fallen in the last few weeks and it is in an area where we cannot take those chances."
Alan Mosley, leader of the council said it was disappointing to have to remove a tree which was part of the landscape of the town.
He said: "It is very sad that we are having to remove this famous tree which has been a landmark for so many years. However, we have no choice especially given the increasing popularity of our new attractions nearby. I hope we can find something special to replace it."
Work to save the tree has included fencing, ground de-compaction and significant dead-wooding.
Councillor Bannerman said he had suggested that the tree is now used to create a piece of art.
He said: "I have asked town clerk Helen Ball and the three group leaders on the council that they consider either giving part of it to an artist and see what that can create, and that would be a nice thing to do and secondly the other possibility is if after we have removed it we put the trunk of it in a place where children can play on it."
