Petitions for trees around south-east (9)

I believe the answer is:

beseeches

'petitions' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'trees around south-east' is the wordplay.
'trees' becomes 'beeches' (beech is a kind of tree).
'around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'south east' becomes 'SE' (abbreviation).
'beeches' enclosing 'se' is 'BESEECHES'.

'for' is the link.

(Another definition for beseeches that I've seen is " Implores".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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