’IT WAS reported in the Herald of May 21 that ‘a further two mature horse chestnut trees have been felled at the Butts in Alton because of safety concerns,’ writes Jane Hurst.

“It may interest your readers to know that, historically, there never were any trees here until the 1880s.

“At the meeting of Alton’s Local Board (the forerunner of the Alton Town Council) on November 19, 1880, the committee – appointed three years before to report on the best manner of dealing with the Butts Green – made several recommendations, including one that trees be planted and seats placed at intervals on the Butts.

“The next mention of the matter came in February 1884 when it was decided a meeting of ratepayers would be called to consider planting the outside of the Butts with trees and for a subscription to be raised to pay for it.

“On March 21 it was stated this had taken place at the Assembly Rooms and a committee formed. No minutes or newspaper report have been found but presumably the money was forthcoming and the seats and trees acquired as, on April 18, the board minutes say there was to be a notice made against the damaging of the trees and seats.

“Then in July, HP Burrell, chairman of the Alton Butts Improvement Committee, asked the board to help keep the Butts as a recreation ground by taking measures for the removal of all caravans in future except on fair days. A set of bylaws were to be prepared.

“On November 20, 1885, the improvement committee asked the local board to take charge of the trees, tree guards, seats, etcetera for the use of the town and said the committee had a balance of £1 10/4 left. The Butts was owned by the Dutton family and only leased by the board.

“No more is heard about the trees until March 1889 when it was reported that one of the young trees on the Butts had been broken down by a wagon belonging to Albert Allam, the horses having been frightened by a train passing over the railway bridge!

“So the trees have lasted around 150 years which seems to be about half their life span in woodland – but these trees are not living in ideal conditions.”

Jane thinks this postcard shows the young trees when they were probably about 25 years old, just before the First World War, judging by the style of dress of the cyclist — an altogether much quieter time traffic wise when the trees didn’t have to cope with today’s pollution levels.