Live-in protest at removal of tragic Brighton teen's memorial tree

11:26am Wednesday 17th October 2012 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter

Caisie's friends by the tree on The Level Caisie's friends by the tree on The Level

Friends of a tragic Brighton teenager will camp in a park to save the tree where her ashes are scattered.

Former Dorothy Stringer High School pupil Caisie Muller, 17, died in August 2011 following a crash in Jamaica. Her father, father’s former partner and a family friend were also killed.

Caisie lived in Elm Grove, Brighton, with her brother Owen and mother Yogo at the time of the crash, although the family have since moved to Wales.

Her friends set up a memorial tree in The Level in Caisie’s memory. However, Brighton and Hove City Council has said it will have to be uprooted because of the park’s redevelopment.

Caisie’s friends object and are now staging a live-in protest by the tree which has been decorated with trinkets since she died.

One friend, an 18-year-old who would only give her name as Thea, said: “We love it and people going past also comment on it favourably – they say it is a focal point of The Level. We would buy the tree and take it elsewhere.”

Previously the council has said that it was in touch with Caisie’s family.

A spokesman said: “We have contacted all those affected to explain why we are replacing the trees and inviting them to be present when the new trees are planted.”

Comments(22)

Buckers10 says...
12:58pm Wed 17 Oct 12

How utterly insensitive you people are. They have put up a memorial to remember her because it's not like they can do it in Jamaica is it? Leave the tree and the memorial alone so that people can remember this girl in the way they want to. What's wrong with that? The Level is for everyone in Brighton to use. You can't start dictating what you can and can't do there. As long as it doesn't harm anyone, what's the problem? There's a Max Miller memorial nr the Pavillion. By the same logic, shall we take that down too?

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Archie Bun says...
1:13pm Wed 17 Oct 12

Buckers10 wrote:
How utterly insensitive you people are. They have put up a memorial to remember her because it's not like they can do it in Jamaica is it? Leave the tree and the memorial alone so that people can remember this girl in the way they want to. What's wrong with that? The Level is for everyone in Brighton to use. You can't start dictating what you can and can't do there. As long as it doesn't harm anyone, what's the problem? There's a Max Miller memorial nr the Pavillion. By the same logic, shall we take that down too?
That is private property. Big difference. And a statue is not the same as flowers stuck to a tree is it.

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rolivan says...
1:19pm Wed 17 Oct 12

The Tree has no real significance apart from being festooned with items.I cannot understand how her ashes were scattered there if it was known that development work was going to take place.Perhaps her friends can wait until the park is redeveloped and get permission for a memorial then.In the meantime why not spend the money that usually gets spent on a childrens charity that will benefit somebody.The Florists are making fortunes now out of someones misfortune with these Memorials being set up and I think the money could be spent on something more longterm.

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Surely not! says...
3:53pm Wed 17 Oct 12

haha.. you really are miserable old sods. Its a group of teenage girls. You really expect them to think your petty concerns are more important than theirs are to them? Let them do their thing, stop being so supercillious and try and help them grow up into nice rounded concerned adults and hopefully not bitter, blinkered sad commenters on the Argus website.

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Surely not! says...
3:56pm Wed 17 Oct 12

and the Max Millar statue is hideous... and its not private property either...

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aysharose23 says...
4:54pm Wed 17 Oct 12

you people make me sick! the family of caisie moved away because of private reasons but she was a brighton girl loved by many people in and around the area who spent much of her time in the level with us hers friends who see this as not only a tree with flours around it but as a memory somewhere to go to remember her when we are feeling low and need something to cheer us up! it may be everyones park and everyones tree but every person who has passed has told us how much it brighten's up the level and makes them smile every time they see it ! its not harming anyone so why change it when at the same time it makes others happy!! you pathetic people obviously have nothing better to do than sit here and judge us if you have something to say come down to CAISIES tree and ask us WERE NOT GOING ANYWHERE

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MuammarQaddafi says...
5:31pm Wed 17 Oct 12

Perhaps they should decorate the Max Millar statue to Caisie's memory. Sorted!

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Morpheus says...
6:26pm Wed 17 Oct 12

This is a ridiculous and recent development. If everybody started doing this for dead friends and relatives we would not have enough trees or lamp posts. We have cemeteries remembering the dead.

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anotherniceguy says...
6:33pm Wed 17 Oct 12

@ Morpheus: commemorative benches are not a ridiculous nor recent development. This is just one touching step further that reflects the vibrancy of the young people involved.
Not everyone will choose to honour their dead in this way, so I don't think you need to worry about all the trees and lampposts in Brighton.
However, I do believe any civilised society should respect ALL the ways its members choose to honour their dead, as long as they cause no harm to others.

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Sky125 says...
6:43pm Wed 17 Oct 12

I cannot believe people are being so disrespectful! Caisie's ashes are on around that tree and it is clearly an important place for her friends to go and remember her. How would you feel if the council decided to remodel an area where you had your loved ones ashes scattered? I hardly feel their argument is petty, and why should the fact they are teenage girls have any bearing on the matter? I would still see it as a great injustice to remove this tree whether they are teenager or middle aged or pensioners.
You have no respect and I sincerely hope you never find yourself in this situation in the near future.
Have some compassion.

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Leoniedunlop says...
7:39pm Wed 17 Oct 12

I think Archie Bums comment is totally insensitive and rude. He knows hardly anything about this situation as there are only a few lines in the argus about this tragedy. How can he judge the significance of this tree to other people? There are hundreds of young people who have come to grieve at this tree for over a year now and it is a very important place for them. Caisie was a lovely and extremely popular local girl who was killed in a tragic head on collision with a drunk driver. Half of her family were also killed. As it happened in Jamaica there was no funeral for several months and because of the other involved family members it was in the lake district and lots of her friends couldn't get there. This tree has been a place where lots of devastated young people have come to say goodbye to their friend. Because of the complicated circumstances of the tragedy her mum and brother were forced to move out of the Brighton area but chose to scatter her ashes here and still visit regulaly. These young people are local residents who are adamant that their dead friends memorial is not desecrated. Apart from this, it it a healthy tree and it seems totally unnecessary to cut it down when there is plenty of space to work around it. I also helped to vote the green party in, thinking they were interested in conserving nature, not destroying it. This tree has been growing there for years. Whats the point of destroying it to plant more? Who makes these decisions? We have loads of support from local people who are happy with the level as it is and wondering why our money is being spent in this way. Not to mention the countless emotional reasons these kids should be able to continue to express their love for their friend here. Its obvious that this insensitive man doesn't care but there are now 1000's of local people who do and have signed a petition to say so.

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Leoniedunlop says...
7:48pm Wed 17 Oct 12

aysharose23 wrote:
you people make me sick! the family of caisie moved away because of private reasons but she was a brighton girl loved by many people in and around the area who spent much of her time in the level with us hers friends who see this as not only a tree with flours around it but as a memory somewhere to go to remember her when we are feeling low and need something to cheer us up! it may be everyones park and everyones tree but every person who has passed has told us how much it brighten's up the level and makes them smile every time they see it ! its not harming anyone so why change it when at the same time it makes others happy!! you pathetic people obviously have nothing better to do than sit here and judge us if you have something to say come down to CAISIES tree and ask us WERE NOT GOING ANYWHERE
love you aysha xxxYOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!!! XX

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Leoniedunlop says...
7:49pm Wed 17 Oct 12

Leoniedunlop wrote:
aysharose23 wrote:
you people make me sick! the family of caisie moved away because of private reasons but she was a brighton girl loved by many people in and around the area who spent much of her time in the level with us hers friends who see this as not only a tree with flours around it but as a memory somewhere to go to remember her when we are feeling low and need something to cheer us up! it may be everyones park and everyones tree but every person who has passed has told us how much it brighten's up the level and makes them smile every time they see it ! its not harming anyone so why change it when at the same time it makes others happy!! you pathetic people obviously have nothing better to do than sit here and judge us if you have something to say come down to CAISIES tree and ask us WERE NOT GOING ANYWHERE
love you aysha xxxYOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!!! XX
from Jasmine xx

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Leoniedunlop says...
7:49pm Wed 17 Oct 12

Leoniedunlop wrote:
aysharose23 wrote:
you people make me sick! the family of caisie moved away because of private reasons but she was a brighton girl loved by many people in and around the area who spent much of her time in the level with us hers friends who see this as not only a tree with flours around it but as a memory somewhere to go to remember her when we are feeling low and need something to cheer us up! it may be everyones park and everyones tree but every person who has passed has told us how much it brighten's up the level and makes them smile every time they see it ! its not harming anyone so why change it when at the same time it makes others happy!! you pathetic people obviously have nothing better to do than sit here and judge us if you have something to say come down to CAISIES tree and ask us WERE NOT GOING ANYWHERE
love you aysha xxxYOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!!! XX
from Jasmine xx

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miis b says...
10:51pm Wed 17 Oct 12

Caisie was a bright light in the world of many of those fortunate to know her. The tree has provided not only a great source of comfort to her friends and family, but in my opinion has become a focal point for a large group of our cities youth to share their feelings and emotions. I'm sure not just Caisie gets discussed down there!
In a climate where the youth are more and more marginalised, this tree and the love that swells from it, is a place to be treasured.
I have passed by on many occasions with my 8 year old, and told many strangers about the vibrant young girl who tragically lost her life, and EVERYONE has commented on how lovely, touching and moving the tree is.
I have contacted several members of friends of the Level to see if they know about it. Will also message caroline Lucas.
Be strong girls, you all are. Ur amazing, powerful beings!!
Stay warm, and don't forget to wear your thermals!!!
Bless you Caisie, you are sorely missed ****

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Archie Bun says...
11:10am Thu 18 Oct 12

On the contrary i haven't been rude or 'hash' at all. I was actually quite reasoned, if you care to actually read what i wrote. Whether you disagree with it or not is up to you. I'm not the only who has resorted to insults.

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Archie Bun says...
11:11am Thu 18 Oct 12

*one

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Hanover E says...
1:21pm Thu 18 Oct 12

The memorial on the Level has been in place for many months, and if this campaign is successful will become a permanent feature. The Level is public land that is shared and enjoyed by many, and as such any proposals to establish memorials of this kind should be subject to a process of public consultation and discussion, of the type that has been undertaken at great length and expense in relation to the current redevelopment of the Level. I would be unhappy to see all of the hard work that went into consulting the local community and reaching a consensus on those plans be sidetracked by this small but emotionally charged campaign.

I have a great deal of sympathy with Caisie’s family and friends for their tragic loss, and it is unfortunate that her ashes were sprinkled on land that was earmarked for redevelopment. I am also sure that their petition is likely to gather significant support, as few passers-by are likely to challenge a request to sign a petition to save their friend's tree (not that it is, really, their tree to save). However, the group should recognise and accept that others may hold a different view. When I tried to explain why I would not be signing the petition I was met with a hostile response in which I was accused of being uncaring, heartless, and - possibly worst of all - of working for the council.

Whilst I do not work for the council, I commend the sensitive way in which it has approached this difficult issue to date. My view, and I suspect the view of many local residents, is that Caisie's memory would be better served by her friends directing their efforts to working with the council to agree (and pay for) an appropriate long term memorial, rather than continuing with a disruptive campaign that should not, and ultimately will not, succeed.

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anotherniceguy says...
2:11pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Would saving one tree really sidetrack the whole project? I think not. From my understanding, that spot is still earmarked for something to be grown there, so why not just keep the tree?
I have also heard the council's intention is to shred the tree, not replant it, which seems wrong for a healthy tree.

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Hanover E says...
3:31pm Thu 18 Oct 12

@ anotherniceguy
I agree that destroying otherwise healthy trees seems wasteful, but your argument applies to all of the trees, plants and turf that will be removed from the Level in the course of the redevelopment, not just this one. That is an issue that should have been raised at the time the redevelopment plans were under consultation, rather than now. In fact the design plans for the Level show that a number of additional trees will be planted along the Rose Walk, and if one tree needs to be removed in order to create a long lasting and aesthetically pleasing end result involving more trees than were there to begin with, then I would be inclined to support it. That said, I have no issue with any proposals for the tree to be preserved and replanted elsewhere if those involved are willing to finance that operation.
My concern, as voiced by others on this thread, is that if the council concedes to the demands of this group it sets a worrying precedent. Many thousands of people die in our city every year, sometimes, as in Caisie's case, before their time and in tragic circumstances. If Caisie’s memorial is retained, others would inevitably follow, and in due course the Rose Walk and other public spaces would become untouchable for fear of upsetting some part of society. There are proper procedures in place for establishing appropriate, long lasting and dignified memorials in public spaces - this is not one of them.

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Omnishambles_1 says...
4:23pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Buckers10 wrote:
How utterly insensitive you people are. They have put up a memorial to remember her because it's not like they can do it in Jamaica is it? Leave the tree and the memorial alone so that people can remember this girl in the way they want to. What's wrong with that? The Level is for everyone in Brighton to use. You can't start dictating what you can and can't do there. As long as it doesn't harm anyone, what's the problem? There's a Max Miller memorial nr the Pavillion. By the same logic, shall we take that down too?
That's really not the same logic

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Omnishambles_1 says...
4:23pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Buckers10 wrote:
How utterly insensitive you people are. They have put up a memorial to remember her because it's not like they can do it in Jamaica is it? Leave the tree and the memorial alone so that people can remember this girl in the way they want to. What's wrong with that? The Level is for everyone in Brighton to use. You can't start dictating what you can and can't do there. As long as it doesn't harm anyone, what's the problem? There's a Max Miller memorial nr the Pavillion. By the same logic, shall we take that down too?
That's really not the same logic

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