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BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Battersea neighbours campaign to protect grapefruit tree in woman's memory
If there's a breeze blowing as you walk down Queenstown Road in Battersea, you might smell the scent of fresh if you look up outside one of the front gardens, you might see dozens of grapefruits of different colours and sizes, from small dark green balls that look like limes, to ripe golden globes ready to drop on to the street grapefruit tree is thought to be the only one of its kind in the UK growing outside of Kew was brought from Grenada to south-west London as a sapling in the 1980s by one of the street's residents, Marline Anderson, who recently passed neighbours have started a campaign to get a council preservation order to make sure it is never cut down. "I just love the fact that I can lean out of my window and take a grapefruit for my breakfast every morning," says Vasilisa Ermakova, who has lived in the local authority flat above Marline's for 11 years, and who was with Marline in hospital when she passed away in June. They were great friends and Vas describes their relationship as "spiritual"."Age didn't matter. Even though she was 77 she was like a child inside so we had a lot of fun, taking pictures, dressing up," she says."And because she couldn't walk very well we had to do the fun inside the house. We had some really good times." But there is a concern that because Marline is no longer around to protect her tree, and the flat belongs to Wandsworth Council, the tree might be removed at some chef Lior Berman says she is determined to not let that noticed the tree some years ago on her way to the local park and has started the move to protect it. "There is no reason to remove a healthy tree," she says."For the sake or the rarity of the tree, for the sake of the tree itself, for her, for us. We have this tree, why not keep it?"Paul Sealy, who lives next door, agrees."I definitely think the council should protect it. Especially as they've said it's the only one in London apart from Kew Gardens where they have trees like this growing," he says."And it's a brilliant landmark for me if anyone's coming to my house. I live right next to the grapefruit tree, easy to find me." A Wandsworth Council spokesperson said: "A Tree Evaluation Method for Preservation Order was carried out on this tree on the 4 August. "We are awaiting the results of this to confirm if a Tree Preservation order can be put in place."Meanwhile, Vas has had a memorial plaque made to remember Marline and to explain the tree's history to anyone walking by."Her last wish was for me to do a plaque on the tree to say where it's from, and why she planted it," says Vas."However we've put it on the front so people don't knock on the door and we don't have to keep telling people off for constantly trying to get the grapefruits down."There is a message on it from reads: "Kindly refrain from picking from the tree. You are welcome to gather what nature has let fall." Paul believes an other-worldly message may have come from Marline to him too."A funny thing happened after she passed away. I was on my way home and just as I got underneath the tree a grapefruit dropped directly in front of me. That's never happened before," he says with a wry smile."Could be just coincidence, but I look at that as her sending a sign from beyond to say 'look after my tree'. RIP Marline."
RNZ News
a day ago
- General
- RNZ News
Locals divided over fallen pohutakawa tree
A fallen pohutakawa tree at a prestigious North Shore apartment complex has locals divided over whether it should be saved or sawn to bits. A factious Devonport Takapuna Local Board meeting took place today to decide the fate of the tree that fell at Takapuna's Sands Apartments in 2022. It may have fallen but it's still very much alive. Residents of the Sands want it gone, but the removal has been opposed by some iwi groups because of the tree's cultural significantce. Finn Blackwell reports.
ABC News
30-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
'It means a lot': US congressman reacts to beef rules
Photo shows a rat-like species sitting in water beside a tree trunk, its hands are near its face Has Audio Duration: 3 minutes 38 seconds . 3 m 38 s
Khaleej Times
28-07-2025
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Tree catches fire in Abu Dhabi; authorities tackle blaze
The incident took place in the Al Saad area in Al Ain during the evening A tree caught on fire in Abu Dhabi on Monday, July 28, the Abu Dhabi Police announced. The incident took place in the Al Saad area in Al Ain during the evening. The authority along with the emirate's Civil Defence are currently tackling the blaze. The police urged residents to obtain information only from official sources.
BBC News
27-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
National Trust Saltram's tallest tree in garden to be felled
The tallest tree at a National Trust garden in Devon, believed to be about 150 years old, will be felled amid safety National Trust said the large Monterey pine tree at the 500-acre (about 200-hectare) Saltram estate near Plympton cannot be saved. The tree, which is about 30m (98ft) high, has two large vertical cracks, and has developed a fungus, which the trust said could indicate potential decay to its root system. In a statement to staff and volunteers, head gardener Martin Stott said the tree had been monitored regularly with detailed safety inspections however it presented "too much of a safety risk". Work to dismantle it will begin on Monday and will likely take all week. Mr Stott said the felling was a reluctant and difficult decision. "Every avenue to try to find a workable way to keep the tree was explored at length." He explained the one of the cracks was growing vertically and had been measured to penetrate over 1.5m (5ft) into the heart of the stem. He said: "The crack can clearly be seen to be opening and closing during windy weather and although the tree is visibly putting on response growth to try and mitigate this structural defect, it will not be able to compensate for the weakness to the stem that the crack is causing."He added that a second crack was discovered last year as well as the growth of the cauliflower fungus.
