Messages are pinned on Trinity Square tree in bid to save it

Handwritten notes, artwork and ribbons have been pinned on the London plane tree, which was planted in the square in the late 1800s.

St Peter Port constable Dennis Le Moignan yesterday reiterated his position that the tree needs to go because its roots and girth are causing problems for the historic area.

‘Please leave our trees alone’, ‘save the tree’ and ‘don’t cut me down’ are some of the sentiments expressed.

One islander re-wrote the words of Sarnia Cherie to honour the tree. It reads:

‘Sarnia t-ree, gem of Trini-ty.

‘Tree of great beauty, my heart longs for thee.

‘Thy voice calls me ever, in waking, or sleep.

‘Till my soul cries with anguish, my eyes ache to weep.’

Dozens of names and signatures also appear on a petition-style paper cut-out of a tree.

A letter signed by Kate H was also pinned up. It reads: ‘Tree, I’ve known you all my life.

‘I don’t think I’ve really appreciated you but I know yet again that us humans, rather than find a solution to the problems, just want to cut you down.

‘If they win, be sure I will miss you and so will my children – and one day grandchildren who will truly feel your loss.’

The tree is over 20 metres tall and can grow up to 35 metres in its lifetime of several hundred years.

It is on States-owned land and a spokesman for the States said a number of services were working with the constables of St Peter Port to look at all options to keep the tree but limit damage to the road, water pump and surrounding areas.

Mr Le Moignan said the constables were pro-tree.

‘Unless someone can come up with sensible ways to sort out the pump and the road problems, we are suggesting removal of the offending tree and replanting another more suitable tree further away from the road edge,’ he said.

‘This is an opportunity to plant an allergy-friendly tree which will look prettier, attract more birds and insects than the London plane and be better for people’s health.

‘The States have a duty of care to do this.’

He said that the water pump was a listed monument placed on the triangle before the trees were planted.

‘Damage has been caused to its granite surround by the States-owned tree, which is not on the protected list.

‘We have been in negotiation with Agriculture and Land Management for over 18 months but have continually run up against a brick wall.

‘It has been suggested by many people that we replace the cracked and dislodged granite slabs with thinner ones and raise the surround to clear the offending root. This could be done, but the tree is still growing and could cause the same problem again.

‘We have a duty to our parishioners to use their money in the best possible way, therefore we will expect the States to pay for any cost involved as something they own has damaged our property.’

He said that tree roots had crushed the surface water drain, lifted some of the road surface and appear to have damaged the main drain, causing it to collapse and the road surface to crack and sink.

‘To repair that is going to cost many thousands of pounds and the tree root will still be there. You cannot just put an upwards or downwards bend in the drain to avoid the root, drains need to be laid in a certain way.

‘If one looks at the tree opposite Trinity Church, that one has lifted the road surface, which could cause a cyclist or motorcyclist to have an accident. Where do we draw the line at protecting offending trees?’