Linda McCartney memorial wood destroyed by disease

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The wood planted by Paul McCartney in memorial of his wife Linda has been destroyed by sudden oak death disease.

The Telegraph reports that Linda's wood borders the 100-acre nature sanctuary St John's Wood, which the couple bought in Somerset in 1990.

Hundreds of trees were planted after Linda died of breast cancer in 1998 at the age of 56. Species included larch trees and the North American Maple, which was her favourite.

Now all the larch trees have had to be felled because of the spread of Phytophthora ramorum, or sudden oak death, which has jumped species and is now infecting other trees including larch and the Douglas Fir.

The wood, which borders Exmoor National Park, is managed by the League Against Cruel Sports as part of its deer sanctuary.

Joe Duckworth from the League Against Cruel Sports said: "Some of them were diseased and it was decided that the larch would be chopped down as a preventative measure. Lots of larch in the area are being chopped down."

Unfortunately, the wood has also been targeted by a number of vandals.

In an early incident, a wooden plaque listing the names of everyone involved in planting the trees had to be removed as it was vandalised.

In 2000, a quad bike as driven through the wood, flattening 40 newly planted trees.

Then in 2003, vandals took a chainsaw to the gates and fencing, causing significant damage.

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