Staff at a garden centre in Lelant have decided to save a landmark tree by turning it in to an art feature.

Wyevale Lelant Garden Centre’s old Monterey Cypress tree in its car park has been a dominant landmark for many years.

Dean Ford, manager of the garden centre on Nut Lane near Hayle, said: “Recently a crack formed in the trunk and for safety reasons it had to be stripped of its branches. As so many staff and customers have known the tree for so long we wanted to make a feature of the trunk, which will remain.

“We thought of many different ways, but decided that we should have the tree carved by Peter Martin from Art Carvers, who has carved many local features for the council and the Eden Project.

“He will start, depending on the Cornish weather, in March 2011 and customers will be able to visit the garden centre and watch the tree being carved.”

Staff at the garden centre will also set up an information board to keep customers informed on the progress.

Dean added: “The carving on the tree will link in with the famous St. Michael’s Way, which is a 12.5 mile walking route between Lelant and St Michael’s Mount near Penzance.

“The historical significance of St Michael’s Way lies in the fact that it is part of a network of pilgrim routes that lead to St James’ Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain, one of the three most important sites of Christian pilgrimage in the world.”