I had to stand there and watch - Bootle Nan heartbroken as beloved tree 'butchered'
A nan is heartbroken after her favourite tree was so severely cut back she fears she’ll never see it bloom again.
Rita Price, 66, has lived in one part of Bootle for more than 35 years and raised her five children there. Rita moved nearby to a bungalow in William Harvey Close fours years ago and was instantly struck by the large, beautiful chestnut tree sat in the centre of the communal field.
Rita said the tree had been a constant reference point over the last three decades and was a place her sons used to come and collect conkers. She said: “The bungalow was great, but what really captured me, was the big beautiful tree in the centre and these blossom trees too. The birds were up there singing and you could see squirrels running about.
“It was all so perfect and I just fell in love. I signed up to the tenancy straight away.”
Rita lives in a One Vision Housing property on a small close – enclosed with a field – where she watches the seasons change from her front door. The field is maintained by another organisation – as yet unknown to the LDRS – which is responsible for the upkeep of the green space and foliage – including any works undertaken on the trees.
Unbeknownst to Rita, workers arrived on Thursday April 3 and started cutting down the branches of her favourite chestnut tree, she said: “Me and the neighbours were not informed that the beautiful old tree would be butchered – it was in full bloom.
“I really can’t believe it and I had to stand there and watch. It makes me so sad to look out my window and see the state they have left it and I’m not ashamed to say I shed a few tears.”
A spokesperson for One Vision Housing said: “The maintenance of the land falls under the responsibility of another organisation. However, we are actively seeking clarity regarding the upkeep of the tree and surrounding land.”
“I know some people will think ‘Oh, don’t be ridiculous, Rita’, but I really appreciated that tree and it was why I came to live here. It’s been cut back so severely that I know I won’t be around by the time it blooms again – I’ll be long gone and that gets me emotional.
“It’s a communal area and we pay for this to all be looked after and it’s looked after lovely, but this was a healthy tree and I want to know why this was done to it.”
A One Vision Housing spokesperson added: “We are committed to providing Ms Price with a response as soon as this information is obtained.”