OK, so, now we learn who exactly the council got to carry out the 2nd investigation into the Monterey Pine, and we also know that the internal scans thereof showed just 27% damage, an 8% hollow, and 65% solid living and viable wood. What the council has obviously neglected to tell us though, whether deliberately or erroneously, was that Dartforest Tree Consultation judged the tree to be 'Tolerable', that is, in no danger of falling right now. 

In its current condition, pruning the top canopy of the tree along with some proper focused maintainance to its root system would benefit the tree immensely, and likely even negate any need for it to be felled in the future, as has been expressed to me by more than one arborist of late.

And yet, the tree is still scheduled to be felled in just two days time.

What do you suppose is the real reason that the council are so intent to bring down this magnificent and ancient tree then? Not that they need a good reason to fell a tree these days of course, but it stands to reason that saving money, either by not having to tend to its upkeep, or by avoiding getting sued by someone getting hit on the head by a falling branch in a high wind, will factor somewhere into the equation.

And if it's the latter, then perhaps they might prefer to fell every single tree in the park, given that in high winds there are always branches strewn everywhere around the park from them, the next day.

But anyway, we now have just two days left before our tree-loving council embarks upon yet another act of arboreal terrorism and environmental thuggery in our city.

One last push for signings perhaps? 

A last minute challenge by the Heritage Department of the Woodland Trust on behalf of Baroness Young of Old Scone, maybe? Or maybe a concerted stand against those tasked with the trees destruction? 

Rest assured, the Park Pavillion Cafe will be a lesser place without this impressive feature tree occupying the space it has done for the last 200 years.

Once again, my heartfelt thanks go out to all who have been concerned enough to have supported this petition thus far...