The Wellhead willows

THE WEEPING WILLOWS alongside the Bourne Eau are the first trees in the town to show signs of spring as they begin to burst into leaf, draping the surface of the water like silken tresses. But now these tall trees that have stood sentinel around the War Memorial gardens for the past seventy years are beginning to show their age and are being pruned in the interests of safety because strong winds are likely to bring down some of the topmost branches and a tree surgeon has been called in to trim them back.

The decision to cut them upset many people who felt that less drastic action could solve the problem but their protests were ignored and tree surgeons began the task in March 2009. Their work was the equivalent of a severe haircut for these willows which were planted when the War Memorial was opened in 1954 and now provide a magnificent backdrop for the Sunday afternoon band concerts every year during high summer as well as being an attractive location for happy couples having their photographs taken after being married at the Abbey Church across the road.

The work continued during 2010 when Bourne United Charities which is responsible for the gardens gave assurances that the work was absolutely vital in the interests of public safety and that the trees would grow back to their former glory in a very short time.

WORK IN PROGRESS

Photograph from the church tower by Jim Jones

REVISED JULY 2010

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