Tree top concert date for musician

Tuesday 29th May 2012

A musical tree surgeon is to perform a gig at the top of a 140-foot tree to support a cancer charity.

Ben Trevor will scale the tallest tree in his home county of Surrey to serenade music enthusiasts with a mini-concert.

He hopes to complete similar gigs on the UK's tallest tree and the world's tallest tree as part of his Tree Top Troubadour campaign in aid of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Ben was inspired to help the Royal Marsden Hospital, in south-west London, after his mother was successfully treated for breast cancer.

Ben said: "We were all so relieved when my mum got the all clear, and obviously very thankful for the amazing care she'd received.

"After her recovery, mum did the Marsden March and a few other events to raise money. Seeing what she had achieved inspired me to do something myself to continue our support of this wonderful charity."

Ben, who also plays in his own band, Bomerillo, will complete his first Tree Top Troubadour gig at the top of a 140ft Douglas fir, just off the A24 in Surrey on June 2.

It will be filmed and turned into a documentary with the help of fellow climbers and film-makers from Surrey.

Then Ben hopes to perform on the tallest trees in the UK and the world. He is already working with top tree expert Iain Duncan towards a performance atop the 210ft grand fir in Scotland before the end of the summer.

Ben's final concert would be in Redwood National Park in California, where Hyperion, the tallest tree on earth, stands at more than 379ft.

After the final Tree Top Troubadour gig, Ben will auction his guitars to raise further money for the charity.

Ben, a father of two, said: "I was planning on climbing the Surrey tree at some point anyway, just for the achievement. There is a tradition among tree surgeons to leave a souvenir at the top, so I was going to leave my band's CD. Then I realised it would be a good way to raise money, and before I knew it I'd committed myself to playing at the top of the tallest tree in the world."

Ben has been a tree surgeon for eight years and played music since childhood.

Celebrities including actors Brian Blessed and Andy Beckworth plus motorcycle world champion James Toseland have pledged their support for the project.

To support Ben's endeavours visit http://www.justgiving.com/treetoptrobadour.

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