The yew tree sapling planted to replace the much-loved Lebanese cedar in the middle of Rye Cemetery has apparently been attacked by rabbits and its future hangs in the balance.
The previous tree was felled in 2023 after it was found to be diseased and said to pose a risk from falling branches or the tree toppling over.
Rother District Council (RDC) has now added protection to the young tree after being alerted by a local resident on Tuesday 14 April. A transparent plastic sleeve 1m in height is now in place around the vulnerable trunk.It’s unclear how bad the damage is to the 8-foot tree and whether a new sapling will be required, but RDC’s cemeteries officer said a new tree would be planted if needed.Rabbits are known to pose a serious problem at Rye Cemetery, attacking saplings and small trees.
