The tree

My daughter's school had a horse chestnut tree in the middle of its grounds for over a hundred years.

It was a magnificent tree. Everybody loved it, and it became a symbol of the school.

Unfortunately, it contracted a disease, and last autumn tree surgeons decided it was too dangerous. So a decision was made to cut it down.

The tree was removed -- at a cost of £4,000. Soon afterwards, a mature magnolia tree was planted in its place -- at a cost of £13,000.

I pay 1,000 a month for my daughter's education, and I keep being told there are no scholarships available for bright students with parents struggling with school fees.
So the figures nearly gave me a heart attack -- what a waste of resources, I thought.

And the new tree doesn't look good. They say it's quite normal after the trauma of being re-planted ... I don't know. Its leaves are brown, shrivelled up and falling to the ground in alarming quantities.

Hope it recovers soon...