MOTHER Nature may have put paid to Kent's landmark lime but Friday's strong winds at least saved the tree from an even less dignified end.

The ailing lime was surveyed by tree surgeons at the end of last summer and their reports together with fears over public liability insurance issues, would undoubtedly have led to the tree being felled.

A decision over its future was to be made at this week's meeting of Kent's general committee, but that option was finally taken out of the club's hands.

"The tree was inspected in September by John Harraway acting for Mark Jones Tree Surgeons of Lancing, and it is fair to say the prognosis was not good," said Kent chief executive Paul Millman.

"The continued stability of the trunk could no longer be guaranteed, so the writing was on the wall so to speak. It is a sad day in many ways, but a blessing in disguise in others."

Mr Millman said the club had every intention to implement its plans to replace the lime with a similar semi-mature Tilia eachlora specimen planted at the ground in 1999 by club president Tony Levick and former Daily Telegraph cricket corespondent E.W. Swanton.

Indeed, the only decision now is to when and how the new tree will be transplanted from its present position 20 yards from its forlorn ancestor.

"As far as I'm concerned there's no decision to be made as far as replacement goes, that option was taken six years ago when we bought the new lime to the ground," said Mr Millman.

"The feeling and feedback I've been getting from club members and the world of cricket in general is that people want this little part of Kent history to continue, though I have to say the replacement will look a lot less imposing for a few years to come."

Mr Millman said that the club was considering options to use the sound timber from the downed tree to make commemorative stumps and autograph cricket bats.

"There is a precedent for doing that, we did something similar back in 2000 when a large branch came away, and those memorabilia items did prove popular. We are still going through various ideas and they will be approved at this week's general committee meeting.

"We are also very aware that many members have scattered the ashes of loved ones near the tree, so we will show due respect and understanding to their wishes and views.

"I am open to ideas as to what becomes of the base to the old tree and preserving and moving the entire stump to another part of the ground is just one of the ideas to be considered in due course."

Leading the calls for the introduction of the 12th man tree at St Lawrence the leader of Canterbury City Council, Cllr Alex Perkins said: "I do hope your readers will join me in urging Kent to replace their famous lime tree. Its sad demise at the hands of the recent storms threatens to end one of our most splendid local traditions.

"Cricket fans from around the world have heard tell of the famous tree within the boundary at St Lawrence and thanks to the forethought of the club a ready-made replacement stands nearby ready for transplantation to the hallowed spot.

"There has been some suggestion in the media that, in the interests of future development at the ground, the replacement be left outside the boundary rope which I think would be a great shame."