Beloved almond tree in Oxford High Street is 'replaced'

The almond tree was cut down in January after it was damaged during last year’s heatwave.

The tree’s pink blossom, outside the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, was popular with tourists from around the globe.

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Now, with funding from Old Bank Hotel owner Jeremy Mogford, the almond tree has been replaced.

Rev Dr William Lamb, the vicar of the church, said: “The tree that has been planted is the Cercis siliquastrum, the Tree of Judaea, which has an attractive pink blossom.

"The advice of our tree specialist was that we could not replace the almond tree (prunus dulcis) with another almond tree in the same place.

“The new almond tree will be planted at the beginning of April further down the south side of the church.”

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Some people believe Judas, one of Jesus's disciples, hanged himself from a tree of this species.

Rev Lamb added: "The previous tree had been diseased and we would have had to remove 10 cubic metres of soil to prevent the new tree from succumbing to the same disease.

"Given the archaeological significance of the site, that would have been impossible.

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"The Cercis is not prone to the disease suffered by the prunus genus and so it will be unaffected.

"You will see that it is a fairly substantial specimen (over two metres high). The other trees will be a similar size.

"The new almond tree is currently on order from a nursery on the continent."