WINCHESTER'S busiest park looks almost empty without it.

For the first time in 80 years the tulip tree in Abbey Gardens has gone, fatally damaged by the storm on Sunday night.

A split in the trunk gave the city council no choice but to cut it down on safety grounds, a task set to be completed this week.

Nigel Trowell, parks and recreation officer, surveyed the limbless trunk and summed up the feelings of many. "I almost can't bear to see it there. You don't notice it, it is part of the normal scene. But when it goes the place looks awful," he said.

The root will be ground out before the council decides what sort of tree to replace it with.

Ironically the city council is about to hold a tree dressing day at Abbey Gardens to celebrate their importance.

It hopes the day on Sunday December 3 will encourage people to appreciate the trees around trees. The loss of the tulip will make that much easier.

The council is keen for people to make decorations to dress a tree in Abbey Gardens.

Teresa Kennard, of the council Agenda 21 team, said tree-dressing is a custom in many parts of the world.

"Adopting this custom is an excellent way to motivate people to think about why trees are so important and is a particularly good way to encourage young people to appreciate the natural environment.

"It has been a shock to see the tulip tree now. It is quite strange when something like that happens, seeing a big space where a gorgeous tree used to be.

"You don't realise how large an effect trees can have on you until they are gone. We hope the tree dressing day will help make people realise how important they are."

A free information pack with card leaves is available from the council. The cards left on the trees on December 3 will stay for a week.

The children of local schools, St Faith's in St Cross, Sun Hill Infants in Alresford, Ridge-mead in Bishop's Waltham and Meonstoke, have already started to decorate the card leaves with pictures and words to show why their favourite trees are important to them.