Places features

Businessman Daniel Pettitt from Weymouth is keen gardener with a particular passion for palm trees.

When he ran out of room in his garden at home, he looked at where else he could put his favourite plants.

Daniel, who runs a chain of fish and chip shops around Weymouth and Portland and Poole, loves his home town of Weymouth, so he decided to donate a palm tree to it, placing it where everyone can see it - on a roundabout.

Working in collaboration with Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, he chose the Chalbury roundabout in Preston because he drives past it everyday.

He says: "The plant is a Canary Island date palm (or Phoenix Canariensis) and I just thought it would make the roundabout look better.

"It gives it a bit of an exotic touch, and it makes the area that bit more special.

"Palm trees have just been a hobby I've been interested in for years, and I love Weymouth.

"It's a beautiful place, and if there's anything I can do to improve it or make it prettier, then I will."

Daniel had the 14 ft plant specially shipped from Spain, and the plant was lowered into place using a crane.

He then donated another plant to the town, a second Canary Island Date Palm at Weymouth's King's Street roundabout, and then an eight feet tall Californian fan palm (or Washingtonia) at Sandsfoot Castle near Nothe Fort.

He says: "Everyone has said positive things about them. The comments I get are just incredible. It makes a nice addition to the area.

"It makes me feel proud."

But is Weymouth's climate suitable for tropical plants?

Daniel says: "Weymouth is very lucky as we miss a lot of the cold weather that comes down in the winter.

"We're nice and close to the sea and the bay faces east, and a lot of the cold wind we get comes from an easterly direction so we get the benefit of the sea keeping this part of the town a little bit warmer."

Daniel hopes to donate yet another palm tree to a town roundabout sometime later this year.