Landmark tree comes down
A tree that has stood in a Kent churchyard for 116 years has come crashing down – believed to be a victim of the heatwave.
The Cedar of Lebanon was planted in the grounds of the Ancient Parish Church of East Farleigh by vicar Mowbray Trotter in 1901.
But on Monday, without any warning, it toppled over – just 45 minutes after church keyholder Sheila Allchin had been digging a small plot for a parishioner’s ashes beneath it.
The tree missed the Lower Road church, but smashed a number of gravestones.
Gary Hindley, who owns the Old School Hall nearby, had been painting the church walls when he heard a crash. He said: “It sounded like something large falling off the back of a lorry.
“It was lucky no one was underneath it at the time. Now it is just lying there looking very sad and smashed up.”
It is not uncommon to hear of parts of trees falling during prolonged hot spells. Experts warn of sitting beneath them in warm weather due to a phenomenon called “summer branch drop”.