Fury in pretty UK town as council chops down 'sacred' memorial tree

Residents have been left upset after a 'sacred' memorial tree was suddenly chopped down by a council.

The mulberry tree, which was planted a quarter of a century ago as a tribute to people who had work-related deaths, was discovered by a passerby as nothing but a stump.  The memorial in Rochester Castle Gardens, Kent, was planted by Unison and is a shrine where mourners can show their respect to loved ones.

Medway Council said work was done to remove damaged limbs but it is thought the tree will grow back.  A passer-by, who did not wish to be named, was angry about the tree's demise.

The Rochester resident, who noticed it had been chopped on his regular trip to the shops in the nearby High Street, said: "One minute it appears to be a healthy tree and the next it's gone.  I asked a worker about it and he referred to it as the 'sacred tree'. Then somebody else told me it had to come down because a branch had fallen off."

"It's not any old tree it means a lot to people. A lot of people will be very upset.  I just only hope it's replaced with a similar tree."

Every year to mark International Workers' Memorial Day an emotive service is held in the grounds in the shadow of the castle. Family and friends are invited to place name tags and purple ribbons on the branches at a ceremony attended by different faiths in the community.

The plaque reads: "Erected by the Medway Towns Local Government Branch of the trade union Unison on 28th April 1998, this mulberry tree in Rochester Castle Grounds is dedicated to all those killed at work or who have died from work-related illnesses."

The tree was initially installed as a long-lasting memento to Bob Wade, known as a green champion, a senior council park ranger and a Unison assistant branch secretary. Bob, who lived in Rochester, died of mesothelioma, an asbestos-related disease at the age of 47.

Having spoken to the council's tree surgeon, Tania Earnshaw, Medway local government branch secretary, said they would be giving the stump "a chance to grow".   But, in the meantime, they would be looking at "options" for next year's Memorial Day in April.

She said: "It's part of Bob's legacy and we have a commitment that we have something in place that's respectful and in-keeping for next year."

Council leader Vince Maple (Lab) has been a regular attendee of the service over the years.  He said: "It's unfortunate that nature has taken its toll, particularly as this tree has a place in the hearts of so many people in our community."

Cllr Maple thanked officers who had retrieved labels and ribbons and stored them in a safe place.

A Medway Council spokesman said: "Work has been carried out to remove damaged limbs on the Workers' Memorial Tree in Rochester Castle Grounds.  An assessment was carried out this week and sadly the extent of the damage to the limbs, which had split apart, meant the only course of action was pollarding the tree."

"This work needed to be undertaken quickly due to understandable public safety concerns.  The mulberry tree has not been felled entirely, and we are confident it will regrow and last a long time."

"Medway Council is currently considering options for planting another tree in the immediate area to mitigate the impact of these essential works.  Commemorative ribbons and cards have been collected and stored, and we are looking for an alternative location for this important memorial."