A POOLE schoolgirl is fighting to save her “favourite tree” after it was marked for the chop.
Ella Godfrey, 11, contacted the Echo after the maple tree on the green at Blake Dene Road in Lilliput was marked with an orange spot – indicating it is to be felled.
While it looks healthy, the council has discovered the tree is suffering from a fungal disease.
While Ella knows she may have to bid it a sad farewell, she has decided to press ahead with a final stand petition to show her love for the tree.
She told the Echo: “I want people to sign to say they will miss the tree and don’t want it to be cut down.
“We’ve made dens in the tree and hung on its branches, made little homes for ants, climbed it and picked up the autumn leaves to make pictures with.
“I will be very sad to see it go – I love that tree. It’s my favourite.”
Ella’s mum Tannya Godfrey said her campaigning daughter is taking a leaf out of the book of her grandfather, ward councillor Roy Godfrey.
Tannya said: “It’s a lovely place to go and play.
“Really it’s a little bit of their childhood which is going.”
Andy Osborne, senior arboricultural officer, said: “The Borough of Poole will only remove trees if absolutely necessary. The Silver Maple in Blake Dene Road is suffering from a fungal disease which is weakening the tree’s main supporting roots. This will lead to the tree becoming unstable and liable to fall in windy conditions.
“Although the tree will be cut down during November we are pleased that it will be replaced with an oak tree as part of the council’s Jubilee Tree Planting Initiative.”
