Member of Parliament for Clwyd South, Simon Baynes MP, visited Neil and Georgina Hawkey at their home in Gyfelia near Ruabon on 3rd February to see the 600-year-old yew tree in their garden. The tree has been standing for centuries, and the family are now looking to get a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) in place.
As the local environment is one of the causes at the centre of his work in Clywd South, Mr Baynes is supporting the Hawkey family's request to get a TPO placed on the magnificent tree by Wrexham County Borough Council. A TPO would ensure that the tree is protected for generations to come and would not be cut down or damaged.
Neil Hawkey commented:
“It was a pleasure to welcome Mr Baynes to the hamlet of Gyfelia and show him the historical attributes of an area which include a very old roadside water pump for horse-drawn traffic and a 600-year-old yew tree that sits at the entrance to a historical track to the now-disappeared hamlet of Cinders.
I have endeavoured to ensure the tree remains here for future generations to enjoy and appreciate, in order to protect a historical part of Welsh rural life. We hope Wrexham Council will recognise the importance of historical Welsh hamlets for future generations and place a TPO on this tree.”
Speaking about his visit to the Hawkey family, Mr Baynes said:
“It was a pleasure to visit Neil and Georgina Hawkey and see this beautiful yew tree. I am supporting their efforts to get a TPO in place so it can be enjoyed by future generations – this tree is a unique and valuable part of our local environment. As Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Woods and Trees, I am passionate about preserving our natural environment, and this cause is particularly close to my heart.”
