STAFF and students at a South Ockendon primary school are saying goodbye to a much loved willow tree.

Staff at Benyon Primary School have reluctantly had to make the decision to remove the old willow tree, which is situated at the front of the school, due to Health & Safety reasons. Experts have advised that it is coming to the end of its life span and that there is active decay in the heart of the tree which has caused it to become weak overtime.

Therefore, during the October half term holiday, after the birds have finished nesting and before the winter storms set in, possibly causing branches to fall or the trunk to crack, the tree will be removed.

A spokeswoman for the school said: “The pupils and staff will be sad to say goodbye to such a magnificent tree, and would welcome anyone in the local community sharing their memories of the willow tree to add to the school’s archives.”