Neville Fay, managing director and principal consultant at Treework Environmental Practice, has been asked to give his opinion on the state of the 'Anne Frank' tree where she drew comfort during her hiding from the Nazis in World War II.

The tree, in a neighbouring garden next to the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam, was deemed to be so 'heavily infected' with fungal decay that it was considered appropriate to remove the famous tree.

This raised considerable concern from neighbour Sylvio Mutal and other members of the local community. As a result Neville Fay's involvement took place during the Dutch planning consultation period, which gives neighbours etc an opportunity to make representation.

Neville Fay was asked his opinion as a UK tree expert and a specialist in veteran trees whether there was a case for the conservation of the tree.

'In my opinion, while agreeing that the level of fungal decay in the trunk was considerable and significant, the tree showed reasonable vitality for a veteran tree of its age and species.' Neville Fay continued, 'I offered the option that if there were a will to retain the tree it would be possible, subject to long term management plan (ITMP), appropriate bracing and close monitoring.'

It should be borne in mind that the municipality had spent 160,000 Euros in sanitising contaminated soil in 1993 and following that 'adoption' had spent further amounts on detailed surveys in the intervening period and a crown reduction in 2005.

For now, the 'Anne Frank Tree' lives on, while those, wanting to keep the tree try to influence political will and find sponsors to underwrite liability and management costs.