Offshoot may allow tree felled by storm to live on

A 150-year-old tree that was blown down by Storm Darragh may live on, after gardeners spotted a leafy offshoot that could grow in its place.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan, in Cornwall, said the rhododendron fell into a pond during Saturday's storm.

Gardeners spotted a leafy offshoot from the remaining horizontal branch after the storm, which they said could could mean that a new tree with the same DNA could grow in the same place.

Henry Welch, supervisor of the garden's jungle area where it grew, said: "We were sad to see that it had fallen but it wasn't a total shock as it was one of the oldest in the jungle and the storm was exceptional."

"In the springtime it had striking pinky-white flowers and we will certainly miss it but we're pleased to see that the offshoot seems to be doing well and we'll encourage it along," he said.

Although no decision has yet been made, the wood from the fallen tree could be to use it to make an artwork "in homage to one of the signature trees of the gardens", Mr Welch said.

Heligan said it has about 350 rhododendrons, with the "stately woodland trees woven deep into its history".

The earliest were grown from seeds collected by Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, a botanist and friend of Charles Darwin, during his 1847-51 expedition of India.

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].