A TRIBUTE to longstanding servant of Studley Hazel Wright has taken a step nearer reality.
The parish council is keen to recognise the contribution of the big-hearted Station Road resident, who served the village for many years as a district councillor before losing her seat at the May elections following a reorganisation of local government wards by Stratford.
Councillors feel planting a dozen hazel trees to form a corridor, six on each side, would not only be a suitable tribute to Mrs Wright but also help replace several trees the village has lost over the years.
At a parish council meeting councillors heard the trees, costing £28.99 for a one-and-a-half metre sapling, would have purple leaves in spring and summer and would produce hazel nuts in the autumn.
However, concern was raised about their ability to withstand the ravages of local vandals while they grew and developed.
“The cost is going to come in protecting them as these will be young trees and could quite easily be pulled apart,” said Coun Adrian Smith.
“They will be quite vulnerable to people in the night with a little ‘lager lotion’ inside them.”
He suggested that each tree might need a proper metal cage to protect it, possibly costing between £150 to £200 and asked if the parish could explore the possibilty of buying more mature trees capable of withstanding vandalism.
Coun Sue Redman said the council would be looking to spend £2,000 plus labour on the project and it was agreed that the council would look at spending up to £50 per tree in an effort to give them the best possible start to life in the village.
