Tenby’s distinctive umbrella tree will live on in the home of a late local artist and designer, who painted the soon to be felled ash tree numerous times.

It was announced recently that the prominent ash tree in Denzil Griffiths’ Gardens along the Norton that overlooks the North Beach, distinctive as its canopy had been trained over the years to create an umbrella effect to shelter the bench beneath it, will have to be removed due to ash dieback after it was inspected by a Pembrokeshire County Council tree officer, following concerns over its condition.

A painting of the prominent tree still sits in the former home of artist Eric Bradforth on Trafalagar Road.

The life and work of Eric who passed away in 2012, were commemorated with a blue plaque on his home unveiled in 2017, whilst his paintings have been exhibited at Tenby Museum and Art Gallery down the years.

News of the tree’s impending removal sparked the Bradforth family to share one of Eric’s paintings where it features.

“In our house this old ash is known as ‘Eric’s tree’ - as my father-in-law, painted it numerous times, so we’re sad to hear it’s condition is so dire it has to be felled,” said Annie, who now resides with husband Paul at the house on Trafalgar Road.

“Some locals will recall that Paul and I looked after his father for several years before he died. During this time Eric made me a gift of one of these tree paintings.

“The in-house joke was that he had it back on ‘permanent loan’ while we lived with him. It still graces the sitting room wall,” she added.