A campaign for the fast becoming famous Saundersfoot ‘Lonely Tree’ with its 1400 Facebook friends, has seen £1070 raised in a matter of hours to carry our remedial works to save the much loved tree, which was given a reprieve at last week’s meeting of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, after being under threat of being felled.

The Saundersfoot community are coming together to carry out required remedial works while their beloved Monterey Cypress has been put on parole for 12 months by PCNPA, with a working group to look at mapping out it’s long-term future and care plan.

Saundersfoot Community Councillor Martyn Williams gave a passionate plea to PCNPA’s development management committee last week, stating: “We will work ceaselessly to ensure the survival of this tree. It is our beating heart.”

The first working group to save this unique ‘survivalist’ will be meeting shortly in Saundersfoot and will include Clr. Williams, Saundersfoot’s County Councillor Phil Baker, representatives from Save Saundersfoot’s Lonely Tree, and the Friends of Saundersfoot and District.

“Thankfully the immediate future looks brighter for this wonder of nature that resides on Saundersfoot Beach due to the generosity of the Save Saundersfoot’s Lonely Tree group members,” said one of the campaigners Nicky Mallen.

“At the weekend we surpassed a target to cover costs for remedial works for the tree, reaching a target to this phase two funding drive in just under 23 hours! In reality it was just a few hours as the dead of night got in the way.

“We are keeping the tree fund open so that it continues to builds up towards the ongoing care plan.

“It was heartwarming and motivating to see the passion for this campaign with the comments from the tree’s benefactors,” she continued.

Saundersfoot resident Carole Llewellyn said: “Time for us to dig into pockets to preserve our ‘Lonely Tree’ and to show support to Nicky, Nina and their Ninja Tree Warriors who have worked tirelessly on behalf of us silent supporters!”

Members of the Save Saundersfoot’s Lonely Tree group have been motivated by the fabulous photographs they share of what they now term ‘our tree’ - such as this pic from Jonathan Davies a regular Saundersfoot visitor from Leeds.

Jonathan said: “I’m 70 now and and have visited family here nearly every year all my life. During Summer holidays from school I was here the entire six weeks staying with my grandparents who lived on St Brides lane.

“I climbed on the rock as a child as have my two sons. The tree is a feature of the beach and is irreplaceable. Look at the amount of members the ‘Save Saundersfoot’s Lonely Tree’ group has attracted, they all appreciate the fact the tree is here and have voiced their opinion.

“The group has done great work in keeping us all posted with the developments as they have gone on and making people aware of the fact we could lose a great landmark from the village,” he added.

The ‘Save Saundersfoot’s Lonely Tree’ group along with other objectors from the area are looking forward to the first working group meeting up to continue the work to save this iconic ’survivalist’.

The campaign group have always been indebted to their members for their continuing support and fellow objectors to the planning application to fell the tree.

The group can be found on Facebook by searching for #SaveSaundersfootsLonelyTree