"A weed is a plant which is in the wrong place."

But when is a plant that is in the wrong place not a weed ? The answer is when it is a beautiful old tree even if it has outgrown it’s surroundings. Last year the PCC was advised that the horse chestnut by the church's main gate represented a potential danger to property and person.

The tree has been regularly 'crowned', at some expense to the Church, and this has kept the tree relatively healthy. However, horse chestnuts are notoriously brittle, and were any of the major limbs to fall, the potential damage to High Street shops, the Vicarage, and the Church itself could be substantial - not forgetting the danger to passers-by! Indeed the churchyard wall, displaced by heave, was for this reason, long ago reinforced. The safest solution would be to remove the tree altogether. However this chestnut is a major feature of the Dedham street scene and is still in its prime.

A full 'pollard' (severe pruning) back to the main trunk could also kill it. The best solution, to retain the tree safely, is to cut the main branches back by a third and remove any which are hanging down. Further trimming will then be necessary every few years.

Unfortunately, the Church has no budget for such work. (It already spends more on maintaining the churchyard than any other church in the deanery). Also there is only a small window of time in which this operation can be carried out without harming the chestnut - after the fall of leaves and before the buds open in the New Year. The work must take place the early part of the new year.

So we are launching an appeal for funds. Incidentally, if everyone in Dedham alone gave just one pound, this would cover the 'First cut' - and would be the first stage in saving the tree.

PLEASE HELP SAVE THIS LOVELY TREE!

UPDATE March 2003

The PCC records with gratitude a grant of £500 by the Parish Council towards the Save the Chestnut Tree campaign (and a further £500 towards maintenance of the Churchyard). About £350 has been donated by parishioners and following further contractors' estimates, the work is due to cost about £1400. The important work of pruning this tree should have happened by end of March - but if it hasn't that will be because the advanced growth of the leaf-buds (following the largely mild winter) has meant a delay in the project until the autumn.

Donations please to:
"Save the Chestnut".
Parish Office
The Vicarage,
High Street,
Dedham,
Colchester,
Essex CO7 6DE 

01206 322135
(++44) 1206 322136

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