Magnolia tree in Lilliput cut down for health and safety

The magnificent magnolia, which proudly stood at 60ft, was planted in the back garden of a home in Lilliput, more than 50 years ago by a former owner.

Every spring people flocked to the area to see its brilliant pink blossom.

Now there is just an empty gap from where the protected tree had stood after the local council approved an application to chop it down.

The current owners of the detached house on Elgin Road commissioned a tree surgeon to inspect the specimen who found it was in a state of decay.

They feared it could fall and damage either their or a neighbours properties, leaving them liable.

A BCP Council officer agreed, saying that because it was close to three properties it could fall on them if it was blown down in its weakened state.

Neighbour Steve Trew said: "It is a shame. We've only been here a few years but we thought it was a lovely tree and were very disappointed when it went.

"I understand why it became a hazard, sadly I think the council did the right thing approving the felling.

"It's never serious until something happens."

Other neighbours, who did not want to be named, also spoke of their sadness that the striking specimen has gone.

One added: "I was sad to see it go, it was a beautiful tree. But it is up to the owners what they do with their tree."

Graham Whitehall, of the Dorset Lake Community Group, said: "It's a difficult one, I'm a big tree lover but I think this was the right tree in the wrong place.

"We had heard rumblings about the fact it was no longer there and then we got confirmation that the owners got permission to fell it.

"It's a Marmite moment - you will have some people saying it's the owner's tree they can do what they want, and others will say it's a public amenity and should be protected.

"It was magnificent but at the end of the day, the person who owns that property is responsible for that tree and if they feel it is a danger and have done everything in the correct way, there's nothing you can do about it.

"Why should that tree be kept for public amenity if it's in a private garden. If the owner wants to remove it because it's decaying and the council said no, who's going to be responsible if parts of that tree start dropping off?"

Elgin Road where the magnolia tree has now gone

The original owner who planted the tree died in the 1980s. At the time a neighbour was so worried the new owner of the property might want to get rid of the magnolia they successfully applied to have a Tree Preservation Order put on it.

The council previously stated the magnolia 'contributes significant visual amenity' to the area and is a 'fine example of an unusual tree therefore it has rarity value'.

But not everyone was a fan. Council records showed some neighbours had previously complained that the tree had grown too big for the plot and made a lot of mess - with the fallen petals said to fill five wheelie bins a year.

The owners submitted an application to fell the tree in October last year.

A tree report carried out by arboricultural consultant Andrew Cleaves said fungal fruit bodies were found on the tree, believed to be either Ganoderma australe or applanatum, both of which are a 'significant decay fungi' which cause a white rot.

Mr Cleaves said the fungi appears well established in the tree "causing obvious decay in the north stem and causing symptoms in the crown".

He said given the tree's exposed position to prevailing winds from the harbour it could be likely to fall and risk damage to both the owner's property and the neighbours.

In the report he said: "The occupants of the adjacent properties have indeed expressed to the client their concerns over the tree and there is a clear issue of liability in respect of these properties.

"Whether the condition of the tree has yet reached a critical point probably cannot be pinpointed without testing using internal decay detection equipment, however the direction of travel is clear; the decline in the crown and decay in the stems can only worsen."