A 200-YEAR-OLD tree at the centre of worship by druids and witches has been chopped down to size after it became diseased.
The 80ft beech at Winterbourne Abbas has been reduced to a 10-metre stump by English Heritage because of fears it would die and fall over.
The tree has become a dominant feature at the site, famous for the ancient stone circle standing beneath its branches.
More here
dorsetecho.co.uk/display.var.1254034.0.0.php?utag=34317
I visited the site yesterday for the first time thanks to Julian and his advice about parking in the "Little Chef" carpark. The site is so close to the road and the evidence of the tree being culled was obvious. Despite that it was still one of the most perfect little stone circles that i have ever seen. A hedge or some saplings in the ditch next to the road would help to keep it more private and reduce road noise. I can still imagin how beautiful it would have looked 4000 years ago! Lovely.