Villagers have been left "saddened" after an historic tree that stood in the vicarage garden for more than 100 years fell, prompting the vicar's wife to release a plea for help to give it a new lease of life.
Wendy Childs, wife of Reverend Canon Christopher Childs, said the cedar of Lebanon fell in Gazeley, near Newmarket, at about 4am on Sunday February 11.
Since then, residents have visited to share their stories involving the iconic tree.
Mrs Childs said: "It happened on Sunday morning and somebody from the village came round and asked if he could take some photos of it.
"He said 'I never every thought I would see that go down in my life time'. He had lived in the village his whole life and he said he went to school at the site and they had all played in the tree and swung on its branches.
"It is a sad day for people that grew up here.
"I think with all of the wet weather it had just had enough, the poor old thing."
Mrs Childs, who moved to The Vicarage three years ago, said she now hopes the timber can be repurposed into carvings which can be bought by villagers as a memento of the tree.
These carvings would also raise much-needed funds for the leaking chancel roof in the church, which itself contains decorative wood carvings.
"Various people in the village have said surely the wood can be used for something," she said.
"Wood carvers are now sought to make use of the timber in the hope that the tree can be remembered and perhaps raise some money for the church roof appeal to save the other precious and rare wood carvings in the village."
Anyone who wishes to offer their service should contact Wendy via wendyachilds@aol.com.
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