A BIZARRE new species of tree will shortly be taking root near Helmsley.

Mobile phone company Vodafone has won planning permission to build a mobile phone mast, cunningly disguised as a giant steel tree, on Sproxton Moor.

The 20-metre high mast, meant to resemble a Scots pine, will be built close to a group of real conifers, with the aim of minimising its impact on the landscape.

But the mast - which even features fake bark - will stand head and shoulders above the bona fide trees, which average 12 to 15 metres in height. The tree mast will be the first of its kind on the North York Moors.

Planning officer Val Dilcock said: "It's an experiment really, we're interested to see if it's more visually effective than a conventional mast or not. I think all the telecommunications companies are trying them out."

"I've seen photographs and a model of one, but I've not seen one myself."

John Farquhar, of the Ryedale branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England, said: "When we first heard about these masts, we thought it was a joke, but I've heard from someone who's seen one and said it was a lot more effective than you might think, particularly if they're close to similar trees."

Mr Farquhar also said there was an alternative solution - using existing electricity pylons to house mobile phone aerials.

The first tree mast was put up in Cockermouth, Cumbria, by Orange, and met with a mixed reaction from locals, though in general it was felt to look better than a conventional mast.

Meanwhile, conventional masts on the moors have also been approved for High Normanby, Grouse Hill caravan park, near Fylingdales, and the Skelder Plantation at Aislaby.

Masts at Thornton-le-Dale and Roxby have also been approved for a 15-year period only. An application for Staintondale was deferred to a future meeting.

Several of the sites had legal conditions imposed, committing Vodafone to keep the mast screened by genuine trees.

The park authorities received a number of letters from doctors in the Whitby area in support of the masts, saying that improved communications, particularly in the Esk valley, were vital for their work.

(see Comment)

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