Three years since Cubbington Pear Tree was felled for HS2 - works to create 2km cutting to get underway
Today marks three years since the 250-year-old Cubbington Pear Tree was felled to make way for the HS2 high-speed rail link.
It was cut down on Tuesday 20 October 2020 - just five years after it was voted England's Tree of the Year.
The Woodland Trust, which ran the 2015 competition, said more than 10,000 votes were cast by the public in favour of the winner.
The second largest of its kind in the UK, the wild tree had stood for generations atop a hill near South Cubbington Wood.
HS2 has since been given the green light for its plans to create a 2km cutting along the length of the wood, which will come within 500 metres of the village.
And in its latest look ahead for locals, the high speed rail developer said it will be continuing earthworks and drainage around the cutting.
Footpaths around the woods have also been diverted as works ramp up, and earthworks to build the Rugby Road overbridge are also set to ramp up.
Back in 2020 Stop HS2 protestors set up a camp in the woods nearby in a desperate attempt to stop the demolition but were moved on by police.
But ultimately campaigners watch as workmen using diggers and saws took just 90 minutes to hack the tree down.
At the time one villager said: "It's one of the saddest days of my life.
"The tree has meant so much to people around here and to see it reduced to twigs in a matter of minutes is just heart-breaking."
An online petition to save the tree was signed by 21,510 people but the Government said it would not intervene.
But the tree's legacy has continued to live on since, with saplings created from shavings of the tree now thriving in Cubbington Churchyard and at Guys Cliffe Walled Garden.
The saplings were taken before the tree was cut down.
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