Anger as teenager's memorial tree is chopped back
A father has criticised the actions of a church after branches were cut off a tree he planted in memory of his daughter 13 years ago.
Bob Hughes planted a cherry tree in memory of his daughter Amy at Pontfadog Church, near Oswestry, in 2005, after she lost her battle with cancer three weeks before her 18th birthday.
She would have been 31 on January 31, and on a recent visit to the church Mr Hughes was shocked to discover the state of the tree.
All the branches had been cut back off the tree, with Mr Hughes left baffled as to who would do such a thing.
Mr Hughes took to social media to appeal for people with information about what had happened to come forward.
He said: “I would just l to show all my friends what a so-called gardener did to a lovely little cherry tree I planted in memory of my beautiful daughter Amy at Pontfadog church.
“How would the person responsible for this act like it if I were to destroy something that means so much.
“It was clearly marked to commemorate dear Amy.
"One would like to think Pontfadog church yard is a quiet and peaceful place until these interfering do-gooders run amok.
“No wonder church attendances are at an all-time low.
"If anyone hears who might be responsible please message me.”
Mr Hughes has since been in touch with the church, who blamed the vicar at the time for wrongly advising where the tree should be planted.
An angry Mr Hughes said: “I planted the tree in 2005 and the people responsible for this were the parochial council and their voluntary little vandals.
“I have had a response from them. They are blaming the then vicar from wrongly advising me, but it is a bit late 13 years later.”
A representative of the church confirmed the Mission Area Leader would be speaking to Mr Hughes.
