This London Plane (Platanus x hispanica), with distinctively shaped branches, was threatened with felling along with 22 others healthy trees on Western Rd, mainly because they were categorised as damaging the pavement or offsetting the kerb.

The Western Rd trees were planted in 1919, in memory of former pupils of the local Western Road Council School (renamed as Westways Primary School) who served in the First World War. The memorial was intended to ‘commemorate the self-sacrifice of four hundred and one former pupils who have served in the war, sixty-four of whom have been killed and twelve had been awarded distinctions’, and ‘the war efforts made by former female pupils of the school, some of whom were recorded as having served in France’.

Councillors voted in December 2017 to fell 23 (around half) of the trees on Western Rd, after estimating it would cost £350,000-£500,000 to keep them.

The trees were saved after a strong and creative campaign by local residents and supporters. Roy Millington, in his 80s, held a daily vigil outside Sheffield Town Hall – reminding Councillors as they entered – and to chat to fellow Sheffielders about the trees. Roy had an uncle who died in France in WW1.

In 2020 remedial plans were released that would save the trees, through a combination of kerb replacement, flexi-paving and a few build-outs where required. This work was carried out from November 2020 to early 2021. Roy passed away in May of 2020.

Local residents have recently started a campaign to raise donations for planting replacements for some of the original 97 trees that were planted but removed over the years. You can donate here.