MEASURES to "beautify" Pitchcroft were very much in the minds of Worcester citizens and the City Council at this time 100 years ago.

Crowquill, in his Journal comment column for this week of 1903, explained: "When it comes to the question of improving Pitchcroft, it is easy to make suggestions - in fact, the only difficulty is to say where the money should come from. Some good suggestions were made at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, notably that the 105 trees due to be planted along the eastern edge of the Croft should not be exclusively lime and elm.

"The pink and white horse chestnut would provide recreation for the juveniles, besides beautifying the Croft. Beeches were mentioned, and others could be named whose variety of flower and foliage would improve the prospect.

"Of course, the trees must be planted with due regard to the various uses to which the place is put. What, for instance, would the Hussars say to an avenue from the entrance to the Grand Stand?"

Crowquill went on to suggest that individual city councillors might like to donate money to have a tree in their name, "for instance, a Whitehead willow, or a Fairbairn poplar, or a Caldicott copper-beech!"