THE stunning — but aging — weeping beech in Tavistock's Dolvin Road Cemetery is to be replicated by a new specimen, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Tavistock Tree Preservation Group.

In his annual report, co-ordinator and founder Brian Fyfield-Shayler, who retires this year, said plans were being made to nurture a graft from the elderly weeping beech.

He said Endsleigh Nurseries were to prepare five grafts this winter and nurture them until they were large enough to plant out.

Mr Fyfield-Shayler said: 'The best will be placed at the opposite, eastern end of the cemetery, in a large clear space where a massive common beech was felled in 2002.

'It is fitting that, of the 35 trees in the two cemeteries under threat that year, which brought about the formation of our group, this common beech was one of only five trees felled in the end.

'Dolvin Road's weeping beech is by far my favourite tree and although I am now retiring from the group, I shall be happy and honoured to see this project through to completion over the next few years — ensuring that, as the parent tree lives out the last decades of its natural 150 years life-span at one end of the cemetery, what is virtually its clone will be starting a new life-cycle at the other end.'

Mr Fyfield-Shayler said a number of trees in the town had had to be felled in the last 12 months due to age or disease, but others, in some circumstances more suitable species, had been planted in their place.

'In Dolvin Road Cemetery, the tallest of the pair of eucalyptus opposite the school has started to die back, probably as a result of the exceptionally cold winter. The dead branches are being removed before they fall.

'Ultimately the tree will be replaced, we have suggested, with a golden yew, a few yards further back from the road, close to where a massive yew died last year.'

Mr Fyfield-Shayler said the 'magnificent' avenue of trees in Crowndale Road, planted by the Duke of Bedford, were causing the tree group concern and a report on their condition was being prepared by a local tree surgeon.

He said the group's small band of tree wardens had met regularly throughout the year and a representative had attended the South West Tree Wardens' Forum held in Plymouth.

One of the major items discussed at the forum was 'The Big Tree Plant' — a £5-million nationwide scheme being run by DEFRA and the Forestry Commission.

Funding of between £500 and £25,000 for community groups to plant trees in neighbourhoods where people lived and worked were available, said Mr Fyfield-Shayler.

He said that reluctantly, his group, due to its size, were unable to take on such a project, although tree wardens could investigate areas suitable for planting.

Members of the town council's properties committee, at their meeting last week, agreed a letter should be sent to Mr Fyfield-Shayler, thanking him for his work over the last ten years.

Cllr Harry Smith said: 'We have always valued the advice he has given us and I think he has done us proud.'

Cllr Anne Johnson agreed. She said: 'This is one of the most interesting reports I have read for a long time — it was very useful.'

The new co-ordinator of the TTPG, Howard Jones, said: 'Brian has done a wonderful job over the last decade, and will be a very hard act to follow. However, we are looking forward to developing the group and involving young people in some of our new projects. We hope Brian will still be able to give us the benefit of his great fund of knowledge and experience as an advisor.'