THE Guardians of the Great Tree of Holsworthy raised concerns over a parking sign placed at the tree’s roots by Devon County Council — which has since been removed.

The guardians are responsible for the nurture, maintenance and protection of the tree, which is the emblem for the town and can be seen on many official documents.

The tree was planted in Holsworthy Square, with permission from the town council, 23 years ago.

Although the town council owns the tree itself, the guardians, at private expense, supplied all the groundwork, kerbing and irrigation systems that have been put in place.

Registrar for the guardians, James Rowland, contacted Devon District Council’s Steve Brockman to inform him of the group’s concerns.

In an email to Mr Brockman, Mr Rowland urged that they remove and re-site the pole before May 1, the guardians next annual meeting, as they felt ‘the unsightly and inappropriate sign, is endangering the ‘Great Tree’ by impeding the growth of the root system’ — there were also concerns that the pole of the parking sign may have damaged the irrigation system put in place by the guardians.

The group felt it was not appropriate to have poured concrete into the root system of the tree. The Guardians spent many hours caring for and nurturing the tree through infancy, pouring several buckets of water over the sapling — and still do during long, dry periods.

After the concern was raised, Devon County Council removed the sign, making the area clear in time for the May Day tree measuring tradition.