Cubbington Pear Tree
{{short description|Tree in Warwickshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox tree
| name = Cubbington Pear Tree
| image = Cubbington pear tree.jpg
| alt =
| image_caption = The Cubbington Pear Tree in June 2015
| native_name =
| species = European wild pear
| binomial = Pyrus communis var. communis
| location = Cubbington, Warwickshire, England
| coordinates = {{coord|52.3113|N|1.4836|W|display=inline,title}}
| seeded = circa 1760
| felled = 20 October 2020
| custodian =
| website =
}}
The Cubbington Pear Tree was a wild pear tree located near Cubbington in Warwickshire, England. Around 250 years old, it was the second largest wild pear tree in the country and a noted local landmark. In 2015 the tree was voted England's Tree of the Year. A Parliamentary petition was launched in September 2020 to save the tree from being cut down for HS2 and a month later had over 20,000 signatures triggering an official government response. It was felled as part of the High Speed 2 railway development on 20 October 2020.{{Cite web|title=Award-winning pear tree felled to make way for HS2|url=https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/news/18809342.former-tree-year-felled-make-way-hs2/|access-date=30 January 2021|website=Forestry Journal|date=20 October 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Correspondent|first=Neil Johnston, Midlands|title=Tree of the year felled to clear way for HS2 link|newspaper=The Times |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/transport/article/tree-of-the-year-felled-to-clear-way-for-hs2-link-hw97lx0vz|access-date=30 January 2021|issn=0140-0460}}
Description
The Cubbington Pear Tree was identified as a specimen of Pyrus communis var. communis, and is listed as such in the Champion Tree Register.{{Cite web|url=https://www.treeregister.org/champion-trees.shtml|title=Champion Trees of the UK|website=www.treeregister.org}} It is located on the top of a hill near to South Cubbington Wood, Cubbington.{{cite web |title=The Cubbington Pear Tree |url=https://www.treeoftheyear.org/ETY-2018/Previous-Years/2016/Hrusen-z-Cubbingtonu.aspx |publisher=European Tree of the Year |accessdate=10 October 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Gilbert |first1=Simon |title=HS2-threatened ancient pear tree up for accolade |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/ancient-warwickshire-pear-tree-facing-10124355 |accessdate=10 October 2018 |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=28 September 2015}} The tree sat on private land but near to a public footpath from which it was visible. Thought to be around 250 years old, the Cubbington Pear Tree may have been the United Kingdom's oldest wild pear tree.{{cite news |title=A champion pear tree is identified on the HS2 route |url=http://cdnedge.bbc.co.uk/local/coventry/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_9364000/9364499.stm |accessdate=10 October 2018 |work=BBC Coventry and Warwickshire |date=17 January 2011}} The tree was the second largest wild pear tree in the country, measuring some {{convert|3.78|m}} in girth. Despite its age the tree continued to blossom and bear fruit until the end of its life.{{cite news |title=DNA cloning not for pear tree HS2 bosses told |url=https://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/news/dna-cloning-not-for-pear-tree-hs2-bosses-told-4391/ |accessdate=10 October 2018 |work=Leamington Observer |date=7 May 2014}} The tree was entered onto the Tree Register of the British Isle as a national champion (the oldest or largest known specimen of a particular species).
HS2
In 2011 the Cubbington Pear Tree was identified as under threat from the proposed High Speed 2 (HS2) Phase 1 railway line between London and Birmingham, becoming one of 20 pear trees to be threatened by the scheme.{{cite news |title=HS2 route tree voted nation's favourite |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34749065 |accessdate=10 October 2018 |work=BBC News |date=8 November 2015}} An expert from Warwickshire Museum visited the site to record and assess the tree. Representatives from HS2 said that the tree cannot be relocated as the lower trunk is hollow. They instead proposed to take cuttings from the tree and plant seedlings from it nearby as a replacement. The tree trunk was to be placed in the South Cubbington Wood to form a habitat for insects, fungi and plants.{{cite news |last1=Kennedy |first1=Maev |title=Ancient pear tree in path of HS2 rail route wins Woodland Trust prize |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/nov/08/pear-tree-hs2-woodland-trust-cubbington |accessdate=10 October 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=8 November 2015 |language=en}}
The removal of the tree was opposed by the Cubbington Action Group who instead proposed that this section of the line be tunnelled beneath the tree. A petition in support of this proposal was sent to the HS2 Parliamentary select committee, but the scheme was rejected on economic grounds, with an estimated cost of £46 million.{{cite news |last1=Kearns |first1=Laura |title=Pear tree which is set to be destroyed by HS2 will live on in sapling |url=https://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/news/pear-tree-which-is-set-to-be-destroyed-by-hs2-will-live-on-in-sapling/ |accessdate=10 October 2018 |work=Leamington Observer |date=28 September 2017}} In preparation for its removal the Shuttleworth College successfully took cuttings from the Cubbington Pear Tree by September 2017. The Cubbington Action Group led a series of walks to view the tree in April and May 2018 to see it in bloom for the "last time".{{cite news |last1=Kearns |first1=Laura |title=Take a 'last look' at Cubbington's pear tree in bloom |url=https://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/news/take-a-last-look-at-cubbingtons-pear-tree-in-bloom/ |accessdate=10 October 2018 |work=Leamington Observer |date=26 April 2018}} Preliminary works for HS2 in this area had commenced by May 2018.{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Catherine |title=HS2 chiefs slammed after claims trees cut down at wildlife haven during nesting season |url=https://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/news/58932/ |accessdate=16 October 2018 |work=Leamington Observer |date=16 May 2018}}
In October 2019, local residents set up a protest encampment in South Cubbington Wood to protect the Cubbington Pear Tree and other nearby woodland.{{cite news |title=Campaigners aim to protect ancient woodland by setting up camp |url=https://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/news/campaigners-aim-to-protect-ancient-woodland-by-setting-up-camp-15220/ |work=Leamington Observer |language=en}} A parliamentary petition was launched in September 2020 and received 20,000 signatures of support. A formal response from the Department for Transport stated "HS2 Ltd explored all possible options to avoid removing the tree, but due to its age and condition, removal cannot be avoided" and that 40 new trees had been grown from cuttings from the pear, to be grown locally. They also stated that the stump and roots of the tree would be relocated to allow it an opportunity to regrow. The tree was cut down on 20 October 2020.{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Jessica |title=Former tree of the year felled in Warwickshire to make way for HS2 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/20/former-tree-of-the-year-felled-in-warwickshire-to-make-way-for-hs2 |accessdate=20 October 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=20 October 2020}} Some of the wood from the tree was donated to a local woodworker.{{Cite web|title=What's happened to the remains of our much-loved Cubbington pear tree - and wood from others trees chopped down by HS2 around Leamington and Kenilworth?|url=https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/environment/whats-happened-remains-our-much-loved-cubbington-pear-tree-and-wood-others-trees-chopped-down-hs2-around-leamington-and-kenilworth-3054348|access-date=27 December 2020|website=www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk|language=en}}
In October 2023 it was reported that the transplanted stump had grown new shoots showing that at that time the tree was still alive.{{Cite news|title=Ancient pear tree comes back to life|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/26/ancient-pear-tree-comes-back-to-life-after-being-felled-to-make-way-for-hs2|access-date=26 October 2023|newspaper=The Guardian|date=26 October 2023 |language=en |last1=Barkham |first1=Patrick }}
Tree of the Year
The Cubbington Pear Tree was entered into the English Tree of the Year competition in 2015 along with more than 200 others. It was selected by the competition's panel of experts for the 10-strong shortlist for the public vote. It won the competition having garnered more than 10,000 votes and beating famous trees such as the Ankerwycke Yew in Berkshire, the Boscobel Oak in Shropshire and the Glastonbury Thorn in Somerset. It was subsequently described by the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust as the "poster-boy for all the trees along the route of HS2 ... that are under threat from the project".{{cite web|title=Pear Tree in line of HS2 beats Magna Carta Yew & Tolpuddle Sycamore to Tree of the Year title|url=http://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/news/2015/11/09/pear-tree-winner|website=Warwickshire Wildlife Trust|language=en|access-date=10 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122172134/http://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/news/2015/11/09/pear-tree-winner|archive-date=22 November 2018|url-status=dead}}
The tree was subsequently entered into the 2016 European Tree of the Year competition where it came 8th out of 15 entries with 7,858 votes.{{cite news |title=England's Tree of the Year, Cubbington pear, to be cut down for HS2 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/hs2/11983225/Englands-Tree-of-the-Year-Cubbington-pear-to-be-cut-down-for-HS2.html |accessdate=10 October 2018 |work=Daily Telegraph |date=9 November 2015}}{{cite web |title=European Tree of the Year 2016 |url=https://www.treeoftheyear.org/ETY-2018/Previous-Years/2016.aspx |accessdate=10 October 2018}}