This morning the Mayor of Havant, Peter Wade, planted a flowering cherry tree (Prunus avium Plena) in Hayling Park.
The annual tradition was started in 1974 by Councillor John Derben, a Hayling Island Councillor and the first Mayor of Havant Borough, who planted an ash tree in Legion Field. Planting was moved from Legion Field six years ago due to chalara (ash dieback) which is killing ash trees in large numbers throughout the country and different varieties of trees are now planted in Hayling Park instead.
Photos: Terry Smith