Motorists have slammed a decision to chop down a cheeky penis-shaped "landmark" that has been welcoming people to Scotland for years. The 'phallic' woods sits on Tewsgill Hill, just off the M74 near Crawford in South Lanarkshire. The forest has tickled countless drivers as they crossed the border with England.
Nicknames and history
The bizarrely shaped patch of trees has earned a number of nicknames, including 'Treenis', 'Cock-of-the-North', 'Willy Woods' and 'Boaby Woods'. The small forest is said to date back 120-150 years after being planted sometime between 1870 and 1874. Theories suggest the woods was actually meant to represent the letter T for Tewsgill Hill rather than an intentional raunchy joke.
Fans react to felling
Images of the woods being cut down have circulated on social media, with fans venting their frustrations at the "fircumcision". Reddit users were particularly upset. One person wrote: "Such a landmark. What a cock up". Another said: "Oh no this is terrible! I've spent over 20 years regularly travelling between DnG and Glasgow and we always commented on it!!" A third noted: "Gonna have to erect it again." While a fourth said: "Best landmark on that part of the motorway!!"
A fifth user suggested the landmark would need a name change, adding: "Now known as the shaven haven."
Replanting plans
However, all is not lost as one Reddit user told of plans to replant the trees as part of a cycle. They said: "It was suffering from wind damage and blowing over. It will get replanted after the felling. It was planted as a productive forestry a couple of hundred years ago and has been felled and replanted three times already. This is just another cycle of the lifespan of the tees as they reach their terminal height."
Another agreed, adding: "These are timber plantation trees, they were always meant to be felled once they reached their maximum height. They will be replanted."
