Two years ago thousands of people were saddened when the almond tree in High Street in Oxford had to be cut down, before being replaced with a new one.

In January 2019 tourists from around the globe went on social media to express their grief when the tree outside the University Church of St Mary the Virgin was removed.

The almond tree in Oxford High Street was a fixture for decades

The almond tree in Oxford High Street was a fixture for decades

It had been damaged in the previous year's heatwave and had to be cut down for safety reasons.

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But thanks to funding from Jeremy Mogford, the hotelier who owns The Old Bank, opposite the church, a new almond tree was planted in April 2019.

Staff from Oxford University's parks department revealed the replacement came from Swindon.

Rev Dr William Lamb with hotelier Jeremy Mogford

Rev Dr William Lamb with hotelier Jeremy Mogford

It stands alongside two other new trees which will also produce the pink blossom tourists love to photograph.

Mr Mogford was joined at the church by Rev Dr William Lamb for a tree planting ceremony.

Rev Lamb said at the time: "We are absolutely delighted - the almond tree should start to bloom next year.

The almond tree in Oxford High Street

The almond tree in Oxford High Street

"We have prayed for the planting of the trees, the good stewardship of God's creation, and the part that each one of us plays in that."

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The new almond tree, sourced from Kingsdown Nurseries in Swindon, was not planted in exactly the same place as its predecessor in order to avoid the possibility of it becoming diseased. It was planted instead in a new location at the front of the church.

The other two new trees were a Kashmir Rowan and a tree of Judea and they all stand alongside a well-established magnolia tree.

The almond trees blossom was a popular sight in the High Street

The almond tree's blossom was a popular sight in the High Street

Mr Mogford said in 2019 he was delighted to make a contribution of several thousand pounds towards the project.

He added: "The trees are right in the view of The Old Bank and everyone was very distressed when the almond tree came down.

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"Enhancing the High Street in this way, with some greenery, has to be a good thing and I was delighted to be able to help."

Dan Holden, arboricultural officer for Oxford University, who helped to plant the trees, said the original almond tree had been damaged by the heatwave and air patterns created by passing traffic.

Science tutor Daniel Emlyn-Jones rescued a cutting from the fallen branches of the damaged almond tree so he could try to grow a new one.