A WILLOW tree planted by a terminally-ill mum as a memorial for her loved ones has been destroyed by vandals for a second time.

Dominique Hill planted the tree by Grove’s Letcombe Brook in March, 2018, a month after the mother-of-two's first sapling was snapped in half.

Now the memorial to the 44-year-old, who died in December 2018, has been targeted for a second time with a saw used to hack the tree in two sometime on Saturday evening after 6pm.

Oxford Mail:

Megan Heley, posting on the Dom Daily Update Facebook page, which the mum created to share her story, on Sunday wrote: “Someone has taken a saw to it and it’s now in half. I don’t actually know what to say...I’m just numb.

"We have visited some houses nearby to ask if they saw anything. We know it was ok at 6pm last night."

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She said they had been in touch with tree surgeons about whether anything could be done for the ‘wonderful tree’ but did not know yet, adding: “Sending everyone a big hug because I know you will all be as shocked and heartbroken as me.”

There was outrage on social media after Lynn Jones shared images of the chopped tree on the Wantage & Grove Community Facebook page on Sunday.

Oxford Mail:

Dominique Hill helping plant her second memorial tree in the village in March 2018. Picture Ed Nix

She wrote: “How dreadful. A walk around the village this morning with my dog and came across this vandalism, it has been sawn! Incredible! A memorial tree.”

The post has more than 175 comments, with people condemning the 'mindless vandalism' as 'disgusting'.

A crowdfunding campaign to plant a third tree on the spot has also raised more than £500 within 24 hours.

To donate visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/domstree

Michael Hissey, who started the page, wrote: “Weʼre raising £500 to we want to replace Dom’s tree so her family and friends can visit it again. let’s do this people.”

Oxford Mail:

Mrs Hill was diagnosed with terminal cancer in March 2017 and given two-to-five years to live. In November 2017, however, she was diagnosed with a rare complication of cancer and the former Army dental nurse was told she had just months to live.

Ever since her first diagnosis Mrs Hill worked to tick off a 'bucket list' of once-in a lifetime experiences.

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Planting a willow tree, just like the one she used to play on with her own dad, who died when she was five, was part of that list.

The tree was supposed to be a place where her sons Callum and Toby and husband Darren could go, sit and think whenever they wanted to get away from it all.

Anyone with information about the vandalism call Thames Valley Police on 101 quoting reference number 478120120.