• "I remember being a very young child when we got caught in torrential rain on the way back from the market. We headed for shelter under the Catalpa and I can still recall the feeling of being safe - looking up into the gnarled branches and wondering if the tree could talk! As an adult, there's still a certain magic and mystery that surrounds this tree and I'll always consider it a friend."

  Miss. T. Ree

• "It really is one of the finest specimens in the world. It would be such a tragedy to lose this venerable landmark due to neglect. We're at a crucial stage in the tree's history and we need to help out as much as we can."

  Andrew Other, Gardening Magazine

• "I think it looks like a big friendly spider waiting to climb the Cathedral."

  Sasha Patel, Aged 6

• "It makes me sad when I see the tree because the wooden pole looks like a walking stick. It's a very old tree and we should help it."

  Terry, Aged 8, Rochester

• "Rochester's Catalpa is one of those landmarks that you might say has a magnetic or perhaps even spiritual presence. You'll often notice a group of kids or tourists relaxing under its shade; it's a beacon, a natural focal point who's familiarity is ingrained in the lifeblood of the city. It's a rare and very special rapport that we can all too often overlook in such hurried and disposable times."

  Joe, Rochester

• "It's a great thing to look after old trees. I think they should all be declared 'sacred' - in the ancient sense of the word. The nearest I could find to another one-tree website, though it includes its progeny, can be seen at http://cbs.ntu.edu.tw/bodhitree/en/."

  Tom Turner, Garden Visit (http://www.gardenvisit.com)

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