Sheffield's Vernon Oak part of book fundraising campaign for city primary schools

A crowdfunder page has been set up by the supporters of the Vernon Oak, a tree which is under threat of being felled under Sheffield Council's controversial Streets Ahead programme.

It aims to raise £3,200 in five weeks to buy a copy of The Lost Words for every primary school in Sheffield - and raised 50 per cent of its target in just 48 hours.

Already the page has raised more than £2,000 since it was launched last week.

Joanna Dobson, who helped set up the page, wrote on it: "Vernon and some of Vernon’s friends want to bring some joy to Sheffield at this difficult time.

The first book will be presented at Sheffield’s first Street Tree Festival, to be held on September 29.

The oak tree on Vernon Road in the affluent Sheffield suburb of Dore dates back to a time when the now built-up suburb was nothing more a few Derbyshire fields.

To donate to the page visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-lost-words-for-every-sheffield-primary-school-1 or click here.

The crowdfunder page is supported by Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, The Wildlife Trust’s Teach Wild Network and Sheffield’s Rhyme and Reason Bookshop.