Locals Fight to Preserve Rare Grapefruit Tree in Battersea

In the Battersea neighborhood of London, a rare grapefruit tree has become a beloved local landmark. The tree, which is thought to be the only one of its kind growing outside of Kew Gardens, was brought to the area as a sapling in the 1980s by a resident named Marline Anderson, who recently passed away.

Marline's neighbors have now started a campaign to get a council preservation order to protect the tree, which is located in one of the front gardens on Queenstown Road. The tree is a source of delight for the community, with local resident Vasilisa Ermakova describing how she can "lean out of [her] window and take a grapefruit for [her] breakfast every morning."

Marline and Vasilisa were close friends, and Vasilisa was with Marline when she passed away in June. They had a "spiritual" relationship, with Vasilisa describing Marline as being "like a child inside" despite her 77 years. Marline's last wish was for Vasilisa to place a memorial plaque on the tree to explain its history.

Local chef Lior Berman has also joined the effort to protect the tree, saying "there is no reason to remove a healthy tree" and that it should be preserved "for the sake of the rarity of the tree, for the sake of the tree itself, for her, for us." Neighbor Paul Sealy agrees, describing the tree as a "brilliant landmark" that helps people find his house.

The Wandsworth Council is currently evaluating the tree to determine if a preservation order can be put in place, ensuring that this unique piece of Battersea's history is protected for years to come.