Our Palms bring joy and many benefits; a positive Olympic legacy designed to last and thrive. 

Now, they face permanent removal. Join us to ask Weymouth Town Council to rethink this plan.

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The Canary Palms on Weymouth seafront promenade are much loved trees that bring joy, beauty and tropical holiday vibes to Weymouth residents and visitors all year round. An iconic feature of the town, they help give Weymouth a unique identity.

The nine healthy beautiful Palms are at risk of removal by Weymouth Town Council. We ask Weymouth Town Council to thoroughly explore all avenues to retain our Canary Palms.

We must act now to request a review, before action is taken to remove some of them very soon (currently scheduled before the end of the year). 

Petition to Weymouth Town Council

We request that fully costed repair options that aim to retain all nine Canary Palm Trees on the seafront are considered by Councillors before any Canary Palms are removed and replaced with Cabbage Palms (see pictures).

Background 
The Canary Palms were planted in 2012 intended as a permanent legacy from the 2012 Olympics, when Weymouth & Portland hosted the Olympic and Para Olympic sailing events. 

As well as joy and good vibes, the Palms provide significant benefits to our town and seafront, including:

·        A visitor attraction contributing to our local economy

·        A barrier to road traffic, parked cars and road noise

·        Filter traffic pollution, improving air quality

·        Habitat for small birds and other wildlife, attracting pollinators

·        Shelter from the sun, wind and rain

·        Helps cool the immediate environment and create breeze on hot days

·        Much needed trees in an area of Weymouth that is lacking in urban greenery

·        Maintains links between people and nature that stimulate feelings of wellbeing

Threat to our Palms
At a Weymouth Town Council Environment and Services Committee meeting on 4th March it was agreed that the Canary Palms be removed from the promenade and replaced with Cabbage Palms. Four of the nine trees have been identified for removal. Two are due for removal this autumn (2025). The reasons given at the Committee meeting were to prevent damage to the highway and Esplanade, and avoid potential health & safety issues, and future costs. An independent tree specialist (arborist) believes this assessment is flawed.

The damaged sites have been contested. Significant damage to one planter was caused when a coach crashed into it last summer, not by wandering roots.  Canary Palm roots form a ball shape system, and are not strong enough to undermine tarmac or paving.

Current Weymouth Town Council Plan
There is a plan to try and re-locate two trees to the Kings Statue where similar trees have died.  Experts suggest they are unlikely to survive the relocation.

It has been proposed that the remaining Canary Palms are removed and replaced with Cabbage Palms. There are currently seven cabbage palms along the sea front (mostly towards the pier bandstand end). Cabbage palms lack impact and do not replicate the exotic and tropical feel evoked by the Canary Palm. Cabbage palms are smaller and have no significant trunk or canopy and therefore provide few of the benefits associated with the larger Canary Palms.

Please add your name to this petition to save our beautiful legacy Canary Palms.

If you have already signed the paper petition, you don’t need to sign again.

Many thanks!