A COLOSSAL 70-foot tree threatening to crush a classroom at a nature reserve near Knutsford has been felled.
Kind-hearted tree surgeons offered to carry out the work free of charge after an appeal was published in The Guardian.
The danger forced staff and volunteers at Lower Moss Wood Wildlife Hospital to close an office and classroom.
“A great big branch of the tree crashed to the ground,” said Vicky Boag-Munroe, office administrator and fundraiser at the reserve between Over Peover and Marthall.
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“If a gust of wind came in the wrong direction it could end up landing on the office and classroom.”
The reserve mounted a fundraising bid to have the 200-year-old Beech tree taken down.
“We did raise over £2,000,” said Vicky. “But a company saw the story and did it for free for us.
“They recognised the importance of the work we do.
“We are blown away by their generosity.
“They did an amazing job and all of our wonderful supporters are happy for us to put the money to other use within the hospital.
“We are eternally grateful to all of them.
“It’s wonderful to be back fully functioning for school bookings.”
UK Landscaped Limited, of Middlewich Road, Cranage, removed the hazardous parts of the tree and returned to clear everything up.
Sallie Macklin, the company’s key account manager, said: “We saw their appeal and one of our environmental department guys said let's do it for free.
“We wanted to give a bit back to the community. The fact that they have a classroom and couldn’t use it for their education sessions sold it to us.
“It’s lovely now as we’ve got a nice relationship going with the reserve. They have invited us for afternoon tea.
“We’ve volunteered for a couple of our lads to go in twice a year and offer any help they need.”
The hospital was founded in 1989 by wildlife enthusiast Ray Jackson and strives to rescue and release injured and orphaned animals and birds back to the wild.
Vicky said: “Ray lives and breathes this place. He is so passionate about every aspect of it, especially the education side.”
Four staff and an army of volunteers work at the reserve.
Every effort is made not to establish too much human contact with the injured animals so they can survive afterwards in their natural environment.
Members of the public are advised to be cautious about bringing in baby birds as they are often not at risk.
Hospital manager Janet Kotze said: “If a bird comes out of a nest, it is ready to fledge.
“It doesn’t immediately start flying. It may hop around and hide.
“A little bird is perfectly capable of hiding, that is their instinct.
“Mother’s care is the best. They teach them how to fear, how to forage and all the skills they need to survive in the wild.
“People should proceed with care and keep an eye on the baby birds for a few hours or a day.
"The chances are very strong that their parents are feeding them on the ground.”
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