This Cherry tree on Abbeydale Park Rise may not be the most elegant, formed of 3 main branches awkwardly, and rather absurdly, sticking out from the top of a mis-matched, squat and flat-topped trunk.

However it was the setting for one of the most iconic photos from the campaign, when it formed a platform for Benoit’s protest – after which he received a suspended 2 month jail sentence. Unfortunately, that day also resulted in a protestor having to be taken to hospital after some out-of-control and heavy handed handling by the ‘specially trained security stewards’.

This tree was scheduled for felling because part of the kerb was offset around 4cm into the road. In Spring 2019, around a year after this protest, the kerb was fixed easily in 30 minutes, and in 2020 it was finally taken off the ‘Fell because damaging’ list.

In Summer its ungainly shaped is nearly completely veiled by a thick covering of leaves, but Winter reveals all. Although the tree is rather lop-sided, as some large branches have been removed, it appears to be surviving well, and can continue to be used by residents of the street for their well-known Christmas lights display.