Some very welcome news came last week from Adrian Dowling of Arb-Aid Tree Care and Clr. Martyn Williams BEM and Chairman of Saundersfoot’s ‘Lonely Tree’ Preservation Society that the required tree works to save this much loved tree would be commencing within days.

Last Friday (January 28) saw the first steps in the hands-on conservation process (recommended by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s tree officer) for the wonder of nature that is the Monterey Cypress on Scar Rock that resides on Saunderfoot beach with the arrival of Arb-Aid Tree Care.

Arborist Adrian Dowling and his assistant worked flat out from early morning right through the day and into the fading light.

There was much respect from interested onlookers both local and visitors alike towards Adrian using his special tree warrior skills to climb right the way up to the highest branches of this sentinel tree and working through the Pembrokeshire rain and mizzle.

This is the first time in the tree’s 80 or so years it has had such loving attention.

The work was mostly to remove storm damaged limbs, deadwood and to thin the canopy by 20 per cent.

Small stumps of deadwood and any limb and branch fractures have been left for bat, bird and invertebrate habitat as long as it didn’t affect the structural stability of limb.

The ‘Lonely Tree’ now has a lesser canopy percentage with a more open structure that allows for less leverage and potential failure.

This now allows the wind to travel through the tree more easily, making the tree more sustainable in gales or storms.

Not only does this make Saundersfoot’s most beloved tree more stable and safer it is the start of a process that will ensure the longevity of this iconic marvel for future generations to enjoy in the landscape.

In time the thinned out areas of the canopy will fill in and when growth is sufficient for this mature Monterey Cypress to develop healthy regrowth, then the canopy will be reduced.

Nicky Mallen treasurer to Saundersfoot’s ‘Lonely Tree’ Preservation Society said: “Such professional attention from Arb-Aid Tree Care to health and safety for themselves and towards the public and looking at distant shots of the ‘Lonely Tree’ taken towards the end of the day we think a very good job has been done indeed!

“I chatted to a member of the Arb-Aid team who told me that once they convinced onlookers on the beach that day that they were the ‘good guys’ they’d had welcome positive feedback.”

The ‘Lonely Tree’ Preservation Society are indebted to Arb-Aid Tree Care for all their professional support to-date and to Saundersfoot Community Council, The Friends of Saundersfoot and District, members of Save Saundersfoot’s ‘Lonely Tree’ group for funding and also Saundersfoot in Bloom for their in-kind support.

To find out more about the campaign join the Save Saundersfoot’s ‘Lonely Tree’ Group on Facebook.