The ash had grown up through gravestones moved during a railway project that the young Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) had worked on [Simon Lamrock]

• I READ with interest the recent reports on the so-called Hardy Tree in St Pancras Gardens, (The historic Hardy Tree has fallen, December 27).

It is my personal opinion that another tree should be planted at the site of the ash, one that will not cause “replant disease” and also increase species biodiversity. May I suggest that the Dutch Elm disease resistant tree, (ulmus lutece, or “Nanguen”) is planted in its place?

Sir David Attenborough planted one in Waterlow Park to celebrate his 90th birthday and we are to be given one as a street tree in Croftdown Road on the Brookfield Estate. It would be good to have elm trees in Camden again.

Using the wood from the Hardy Tree as a memorial sculpture is a good idea, and also small saleable objects could be made as souvenirs.

May I also suggest that the gravestones, which were stacked so that they could not be read by relatives and others, could be placed around the tree?

This would allow the Huguenots, and others whose graves were moved to build the railway, to be seen again and much lost information retrieved.

EILEEN WILLMOTT, NW5