Ballaugh Parish Commissioners has confirmed that an Wych Elm in the village park has been lost to Dutch Elm Disease.
The tree, estimated to be between 200 and 250 years old, will need to be removed in the near future.
Steve Curphey, Chairman of Ballaugh Parish Commissioners, said: “It has witnessed some of the world’s greatest moments in history, the industrial revolution, the reign of Queen Victoria, the two World Wars and many more.”
Mr Curphey added: “More importantly, locally it has witnessed the first and last trains into the village, the building of the New Church and the building of the Parish Hall and creation of the play park.
“So many of us, and so many of our previous generations, have played under, around and on this tree, and have fond memories (some not so fond, a broken finger for me personally!).”
The Commissioners have proposed two projects to honour the tree and the authority will ask children from the village for designs and ideas while a new native tree will be planted to honour a local hero.



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