Parish councillors at Chipperfield were surprised a week ago when someone planted a tree right in the middle of the bridle path on the common.

No-one knew who had put it there, but it was a professional job, with strong supporting poles and a wire fence surrounding it.

But four nights later someone, presumably the phantom horseman, removed it again during the night. No sign of it remained and at this month’s parish council meeting [December 10, 1974], no one was able to solve the mystery.

[From the Watford Observer of December 13, 1974]

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