People 'heartbroken' as ancient beech tree felled

People have been mourning the loss of a felled beech tree which had stood in a park for centuries.

On 20 May emergency work was carried out on the tree at Rushden Hall Park in Northamptonshire, but it could not be saved and was chopped two days later.

Rushden Town Council said its structure had become "severely unsafe" after it "dropped two large limbs".

Lisa Mitchinson said it was a "sad sight" and it had been her grandmother's favourite tree, while Deanne Hoyland said she was "so sad that it has gone".

From its position in the park, the old beech tree had seen several wealthy families move in and out of Rushden Hall, the oldest domestic building in the town.

The park came into public ownership in 1931 and local people have been visiting the tree ever since to admire its smooth silvery-grey bark and rounded crown.

Rushden Town Council said an emergency survey of the tree was carried out as a result of the recent dry weather and discovered "a large amount of internal decay".

On Wednesday the town council said the tree had "undergone some urgent remedial works" and would require further attention over the next few months.

It added that it was "working hard to preserve the tree" but it had been fully chopped down by Thursday when a tree specialist found its structure was "massively compromised".

The council said the decay had spread throughout the tree, meaning it could not even save the main trunk "for environmental habitat" as it had done with other beech trees in the park.

On Friday the authority thanked the tree surgeons and other experts who had tried to save it and said: "Unfortunately the events over the last 48 hours have seen the demise of this beautiful tree."

The town council said a new beech tree has been planted in close proximity, and that the felled limbs of the tree will be assessed to see if they can be repurposed as seating and an insect and wildlife habitat.

Mrs Mitchinson, who lives in Rushden, told the BBC: "What a sad sight. Grandma's favourite tree is no more.

"She used to play and hide there when she was a young girl, it really is a shame it's gone, but I hope they can utilise the remaining stump for a memorial or maybe a seat, that would be lovely."

Miss Hoyland, also from the town, said: "The bench in front of the tree is dedicated to my grandad who spent most of his childhood playing in the tree with his friends.

"It meant a lot to our family knowing it was a treasured memory of his and it's so sad that it has gone, a very unfortunate situation."

Posting on social media, another resident said it was a "beautiful tree in all seasons" and lamented that it was "another piece of my childhood gone", while one man said he was "heartbroken".

The town council did provide some hope for grieving residents - it had planted another beech tree in the park six years ago when they realised the famous one would not be there forever.

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