This is just one of those stories that could only come out of Britain. A town in Dorset, Poole to be specific, decided to replace their traditional real Christmas tree with a fake one, for health and safety reasons (many Anglophiles will have heard of that phrase).

So, they replaced a beautiful real tree with what was basically a big green traffic cone. Citizens were not amused.

In fact, people were so unhappy that it began to be vandalized and the town finally saw some sense and took the ugly monstrosity down. They plan to replace it with a real tree this time, health and safety be damned.

From the BBC Article:

A Dorset town’s ridiculed fake Christmas tree – which was put up in place of a real fir amid safety fears – has been taken down.

Some residents likened the £14,000 fake tree in Poole to a “huge traffic cone” or “a witch’s hat”.

The 33ft (10m) tall “tree” had been chosen because of fears that a real one could topple over in strong winds.

The Dolphin Shopping Centre has donated a real fir tree which will be erected on Tuesday.

The fake tree was damaged in a suspected vandal attack last week and Dorset Police is studying town centre CCTV footage in connection with the incident.

It was made of turf held together by metal mesh and was chosen by the town centre management board.

I applaud the city for seeing some sense and putting up a REAL Christmas tree.

Author Info -  Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile with an obsession for Britain that borders on psychosis. He keeps Anglotopia running in his spare time, always dreaming of his next trip to England, wishing he lived there - specifically Dorset - and is always trying to figure out a way to move to England. It will happen one day. Keep up with him on Twitter here. Read more from this author

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