MARC BOLAN'S ROCK SHRINE - 14th September, 2006
Before and After the TAG 5 Hour 'Sprucing Up Session'

These photographs were taken when we visited The Tree on 14th September to make it 'presentable' ready for Marc's fans. As well as tidying the rubbish, beer cans and bottles, we removed the build-up of dead leaves, we also dug out some of the old 'bark chippings' on the steps & platform & replaced them with new ones. This isn needed becuase over time they compact & 'rot down' as fungi, bacteria & wood eating insects reduce them to a 'mush'. Actually we use 'Play Bark' designed for children's play areas because we have found these last a little longer. We also dug out some of the 'peddles' we laid around the PRS Memorial & added a new layer. This time we've used 'Purple Slate' which really does have a 'purple tint' we're sure that Marc would have approved of :-)

You'll see one photo of the latest engraving on the bark of 'The Tree'. Carving into the Bark damages it and further hurts an already damaged tree. For the many Marc Bolan fans that haven't been able to visit the Tree we ask you NOT to do this. It is amazingly selfish; to think you have this 'right'. So "Well Done DEE - You wanted to leave your Mark - You have - Around the World! "

On the video you will also see a woollen scarf tied round the Tree for a football club! Marc wasn't a football fan (as far as we know and certainly not for 'Scunthorpe'!). You will see that as this scarf is lifted the bark underneath is saturated with water and the scarf is home to quite literally hundreds of wood eating insects! Again, this is damaging The Tree we have worked so hard to save. This has been removed and disposed of.

Also on the Video you will also see a drawing of Marc which has been pinned to the Tree - Again harming it. This has been removed and again disposed of. Anything else which harms the tree will be removed and disposed of in the same way, because we fell that this minority of fans so not deserve their 'tributes' to remain in a way which is killing the tree of their 'Hero'. If you hate the Tree then stay away. But don't visit it and then try to kill it!

Finally, there is a photo of Fee by the tree taken from the other side of the road showing the huge 'shrek' 'cuddly toy' which has been tied up there. It is so high we are at present unable to remove it. This was an act of the utmost foolishness, because the lower part of the tree is rotten. It is missing! Therefore the weight of someone climbing to this height risks 'The Tree' being brought down. This may injure the person who is climbing and although this may well be deserved, it would not be good for Marc's name to be dragged into the headlines with that type of thing, particularly if it falls over the busy main road, because then there is a risk of innocent road users being injured or killed as Marc was! Therefore this 'Shrek' will be removed as soon as we can get the Tree Surgeon in (at expense to TAG). We hope there isn't a message on it like there was on the guitar torque-bolted at the same height in 2001 which read "Leave on the Tree or Die!"

In the past we have been accused of 'desecrating The Tree' and being disrespectful to fans for removing or even moving their messages, to inspect the damage. However, TAG's primary concern is the wishes of the majority or Bolan fans which are that the Tree remains standing for as long as possible!

Therefore, we make no apologies to this small minority of 'fans' who disrespect the majority of fans wishes. All messages pinned to The Tree & anything which obviously harms it will be removed.