The Friends of Saundersfoot and District have generously donated £1,000 to Saundersfoot’s ’Lonely Tree’ fund - proving to be true friends of the Monterey Cypress in this year’s campaign to save this iconic tree by the beach from being felled.

Back in 2017 it was the ‘Friends’ that saved this much beloved tree by its community, as it was the first time Beach Court Management applied to have it felled.

The Friends put in a very good objection that highlighted how felling the tree would go against Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s own Development Plan amongst other reasons for retaining the tree.

In mid March of this year while the community was still in lockdown and another application was put forward to fell the tree, the Friends were there for a second time and made it a mission to spread the word and to support the campaign to save the tree.

In June along with the Save Saundersfoot’s Lonely Tree group; Saundersfoot in Bloom; and Saundersfoot Community Council they presented a case for saving the tree to PCNPA’s Development Management Committee.

As a result the committee gave the community six months to submit a Tree Preservation Order and up to a year to save it and carry out the required remedial works.

All involved have since become part of Saundersfoot’s ‘Lonely Tree Preservation Society’.

At a recent meeting of The Friends they unanimously voted to donate £1,000 towards the ‘Lonely Tree’ fund, with Clr. Rosemary Hayes MBE and Chair of the Friends presenting the cheque to Clr. Martyn Williams BEM, Chair of the Lonely Tree Preservation Society.

Remedial works to the tree as part of an ongoing schedule of works will be commencing early in the New Year.

Pictured in front of the Lonely Tree are (from left): Rowland Williams (Secretary of the Friends); Anne Morris (the Friends); Linda Titterton (the Friends); Canon Michael Butler (President of the Friends;) Clr. Martyn Williams BEM (Chair of Saundersfoot’s Lonely Tree Preservation Society); Anne Parcel (the Friends); Madeline Brace (the Friends); Clr. Rosemary Hayes MBE (Chair of the Friends); and Joan Nichols (the Friends).