Ring road palm tree 'listed' as a historic monument

Derby's new top-ranked tourist attraction is a palm tree

An unassuming tree growing on a central reservation along Derby’s ring road has been marked as an historic monument by internet pranksters.

The diminutive palm sits on the dividing barrier between lanes of A601 The Upas and nearby slip roads, and is passed by thousands of motorists daily.

But in June, the tropical tree was named the Derbados Palm Tree - and given a handful of five-star reviews on Google Maps.

One reviewer said it was “the original, the best” adding: “What a welcome when coming back from outside the county.”

The Google reviews currently rank the plant as a better tourist attraction than Derby’s Silk Mill and Museum of Making, the Museum and Art Gallery, cultural hub the Quad, Derby Cathedral, Pickford’s House, or Derby County’s Pride Park Stadium.

But the reviewer warned, there’s no access on foot to the palm, it can only be admired safari-style from inside a moving vehicle.

A spokesperson for Derby City Council said: “We’re stumped as to why this tree is getting this attention. It may be unusual, but its location means it can’t be safely viewed, so we’d question how many people have actually managed to see it.

“Any tree enthusiasts should instead head to our wonderful parks, where they can enjoy historical and significant trees without the risk of causing or being in a road accident.

“Derby Arboretum even has a tree trail which takes in the park’s superb collection of trees, some of which were planted in the 19th Century. In fact, one specimen of Caucasian Lime is the tallest tree of its type in Britain.”

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