The fate of the Memorial Elm: the Woods and the Richard Jefferies Bird Sanctuary

 

 All photos Phil Renton
 

Richard Jefferies lived in Tolworth for five years, from 1877-1882, at 296 Ewell Road, then known as No. 2 Woodside, where there is now a blue plaque to remember him by. During this time he wrote some of his most important essays, collected in the book Nature Near London (see how he has been celebrated locally here tolworth-treasure)

Andrew Rossabi, President of the Richard Jefferies Society (pictured in the hat above) gave a talk about the writer's time in the area to a captivated audience at Surbiton Library in September 2018. The talk was followed by a short walk to the Richard Jefferies Bird Sanctuary, where an elm tree was planted in memory of this important and much-loved Victorian naturalist and author.

 

 This is what it looked like 18.5.2019 and it did very well until ....

11.1.2022 when it was found vandalized; effectively coppiced

With some aftercare including bramble clearance, it began to regenerate and today looks like this...



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