A man with a tree so big it has been nicknamed ‘The Big Friend’ refuses to cut it down and instead spends £500 a year pruning it so buses can pass.
The 30ft sculptured cedar in the front garden of Peter Davis’s home has been a talking point for 40 years as it looms over properties on the quiet street in Wymondham, Norfolk.
The proud owner of the giant tree, which attracts selfie-taking tourists from China and Japan, said there has been only one complaint from a neighbor about the tree blocking light, but most locals like it.
The 72-year-old, who runs a business, says: “The tree is now part of the local landscape. Everyone knows this, especially bus drivers who have to avoid it.
“Obviously if people were upset it might be different and I wouldn’t want to get into a fight with my neighbours, but as it is, most people seem to enjoy it, and the children in particular love it.”
The 30ft cedar tree in front of Peter Davis’s house in Wymondham, Norfolk, has become a “local legend”
Peter (pictured) said his neighbors love the tree and he has only had one complaint.
The tree is so imposing that it has to be cut down to allow buses and trucks to pass through.
Locals have nicknamed the tree ‘The Big Fella’ and it is so large that surgeons have to use a cherry picker to prune it.
‘Some critics say it blocks light, but it’s no eyesore and the tree gets a haircut when it needs it, about once a year.
‘The tree trimmer has to use a cherry picker to get to the top.
‘But as far as my family is concerned, we are very attached to the tree. I’ve always loved it and having this one in my garden is great. “It has become a local landmark.”
He added: “It’s also very useful for delivery people to find it, the instructions simply say ‘look for a house with a huge tree in the garden.’
‘I never get tired of it. I see it every day like many other people do. It’s certainly not an eyesore.
“Once there was a single complaint from a former neighbor about turning off the electricity.
‘But the people who have just bought the house next door, which it overlooks, seem quite happy. Not that the tree is a surprise.
“The neighbors and locals are happy with it and so am I. So why would I want to cut it down?”
It comes after an image of the tree, formerly X, was shared on Twitter, showing how it was so large it towered over the pavement and into the road.
A hole was cut in its branches for public lighting and even a hole for a telephone cable.
Neighbor John Moss, who has lived opposite the tree for 18 years, said: “The tree has become something of a talking point and a local attraction.
Peter spends £500 a year trimming the hedge so that the street lamp and telephone cable can run through it.
Despite spending hundreds of dollars to keep the hedge safe, Peter refuses to cut it down
Neighbors say it’s “not the most attractive,” but added that they couldn’t “stand” it being removed.
‘We got to the point where the tree had to be pruned regularly, which costs £500 due to the equipment the tree keepers have to use.
‘They also have to leave a space for public lighting. It’s not the most attractive tree, but we wouldn’t stand for it to be cut down; Now we’ve all gotten used to it.
“We’ve lived opposite it for 18 years and it’s certainly gotten a lot bigger, there are no complaints and we’ve gotten used to it, it’s certainly an eye-catcher.”
Moss, 64, added: “We have a lot of Japanese and Chinese who come to see it and take dozens of pictures standing in front of it.”
“Once or twice a year you have to bring in a cherry picker to prune the highest parts of the tree, but it’s not a problem.”
Local Brian Griffiths added: “I see it every day and it’s a beautiful sight, plus it’s evergreen and there’s no problem with the leaves falling in autumn.”
“It’s also very useful as a reference point for delivery people – there’s no way they’ll miss the tree.”
The tree is famous locally, but selfie hunters from as far away as Japan and China also stop by to take photos.
Distinctive tree dwarfs all others along suburban street in Wymondham, Norfolk
Arborist Zak Branch, who cares for the tree, said: There are miserable people around here, but that tree is certainly not an eyesore.
“If I left it, it would grow much larger, but taking care of it helps keep it in good condition and looking nice.”
Former president of the European Boxwood and Topiary Society, Chris, said: “It’s good to see people being creative and having fun with the trees and plants around them, we’re all for people shaping plants and shrubs that you already have in your gardens, evergreen or deciduous.
“It’s great to see something that hasn’t been modeled in the standard topiary shape, like a spiral, a rooster, or a wedding cake; here’s something that probably reflects the passion of the owners; it could be a football helmet or a sci-fi Storm Troopers helmet.
“Although some may consider topiary old-fashioned, it can be fun, inventive and not always stuck in the past. However, the scale of the topiary, in relation to its surroundings, is very important… something that might have been forgotten here!’
