A REPLACEMENT for Oxford High Street’s almond tree will be planted within weeks, thanks to a donation from hotelier Jeremy Mogford.

There was an outpouring of sadness from tourists around the globe last week when the tree, thought to date from the 1920s, was cut down for safety reasons.

Oxford Mail:

The landmark outside the University Church of St Mary the Virgin was damaged in the drought last summer and never recovered.

Now Mr Mogford, who owns the Old Bank Hotel in High Street, is paying hundreds of pounds so that a replacement almond tree, and two others which also produce pink blossom, can be planted alongside it.

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The church’s vicar Rev Dr William Lamb said: “We tried to save the old tree but it was dangerous - we had no choice but to cut it down.

“It’s a generous offer from Mr Mogford, which we have accepted - each new tree will cost hundred of pounds.

“Experts from the university parks department, which looks after our churchyard, are now selecting suitable trees which will be between two to three metres in height.

“We are waiting for the earth to settle and and the plan is for the trees to be planted in the next couple of weeks.”

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Rev Lamb said the trees being chosen would be the optimum size to ensure they took root.

The vicar said a surviving almond from the old tree was being kept while some of the wood was being transformed into processional candlesticks.

Efforts were made to preserve the almond tree after a large branch fell into the High Street in the summer but it could not be saved.

Rev Lamb added: “It was our beloved tree and we were very sorry to lose it.”

Oxford Mail:

Mr Mogford said: “I was very sad to see it go - it’s amazing to see how many people said the almond tree heralded spring.

“We are part of the vista of The High and the tree is an important part of that vista - it’ s very important for the people of Oxford and for tourists who visit the city.”