MALVERN got some of its history back over the weekend when a tree, originally planted by literature legend George Bernard Shaw 80 years ago, was replanted following the help of its namesake town in Australia.
A crowd of well-wishers watched the official planting of the special mulberry tree at Priory Park in a event which marked the start of Malvern Civic Week.
Shaw planted the tree in 1936 to mark his 80th birthday but the tree was completely uprooted in a storm in 2000 and was thought to be lost forever.
With the help of the Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells, it was discovered that in 1956 a cutting of the original tree had been sent to Malvern, Australia, where a mulberry tree was thriving.
In 2009 six healthy cuttings were sent from Australia to Malvern so the town could once again have a memorial to the great author.
And that moment was celebrated in a special ceremony on Saturday when Di Foster, a representative from the Victoria town, a suburb of Melbourne, unveiled a plaque marking the story before getting the replanting of the tree under way.
Cora Weaver, from The Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells, said: “We are thrilled that the seven-year project has reached fruition and we are looking forward to the newly-planted tree also reaching fruition.”
Bruce Osborne, from The Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells group, welcomed the audience and thanking everyone who took part in the project including Di Foster, Oliver Weaver, who negotiated the import of the six live mulberry cuttings, sculptor Catherine James and Jim Fox of Coca-Cola, who have funded the project from start to finish.
The history of the various trees and their place in the two Malverns’ heritage was then outlined by former mayor Julian I’Anson before the audience heard 93-year-old Joan Fowler’s story on how, as a 13-year-old girl, she went to Priory Park with her mother in 1936 and watched Shaw plant his mulberry tree. Then Di Foster put five spadesful of soil around the tree base, the same number that the playwright had put around the base of his tree 80 years earlier.
She unveiled a handsome new plaque which commemorates the story of the planting by Shaw, the demise of his tree, and the exchange of cuttings between the two Malverns.
Malvern Hills Conservator Peter Forster also attended the event to take some photos and told the Observer it was an honour to be there.
“It was brilliant to attend and such a fascinating experience,” he said. “I was so interested to hear Joan Fowler’s story because she was there when the tree was originally planted by Shaw all those years ago. For a woman in her 90s, she recalled the event so well as if it happened yesterday.”
Visitors were then invited to Malvern Museum to see a two-part exhibition explaining the history of the mulberry tree. The exhibition runs until mid-July.
In the evening there was a special ‘Friendship Between the Malverns’ supper at the Mount Pleasant Hotel.
Vice-chairman of Malvern Hills District Council, Coun Chris O’Donnell, welcomed guests before presenting Di Foster, on behalf of the district council, a crystal glass engraved with a Morgan car.
Myfanwy Fox, who has become the Poet in Residence at Malvern Museum, read her new sonnet Mulberry Scion, which urged for creativity to be given a chance to flourish.
