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BROMLEY: Queens Garden 160-year-old beech felled

9:00am Thursday 4th February 2010 in


A BEECH tree which grew from a sapling during the early years of Queen Victoria’s reign has been felled.

The 90ft copper beech in Queens Garden, Bromley, was estimated to be around 160 years old but had been left severely decayed by meripilus giganteus - a disease which destroys tree roots.

Executive councillor for environment Colin Smith said: “It was quite moving and not just a little humbling watching it come down.

“Until its sad end, this magnificent tree had literally seen history pass by - Charles Darwin’s famous book, the Origin of Species, had just been published and the nearby Palace Estate was still open land.”

A new tree will now be planted in its place - one of an estimated 860 due to be planted by the local authority this year.

Comments(5)

the wall says...
3:51pm Thu 4 Feb 10

What will happen to the wood? I hope the will make use of it. Maybe so stocks for Market Square.

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jca111 says...
4:19pm Thu 4 Feb 10

the wall wrote:
What will happen to the wood? I hope the will make use of it. Maybe so stocks for Market Square.
I saw them do it - they chipped the lot and it went in the back of a truck.

BUT if it was infected with fungi - was that the best thing to do to prevent re infestation?

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Bromley Council Environmental Services says...
11:54am Fri 5 Feb 10

Whilst the smaller branches were 'chipped', the larger trunk was not chipped. We are hoping that the trunk of the tree can be made into a bench or some sort of memorial which can be placed back into Queens Gardens. This idea is at an early stage and we will be consulting the Friends of Bromley town parks group first.

Incidentally, the chippings are normally burnt to produce electricity in a combined heat and power unit.

Whilst the wood will be treated, the infection actually attacks the root of the tree, making it unstable and dangerous. Felling trees is obviously the last resort.

Bromley Council Environmental Services spokesperson

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reasonable75 says...
7:19pm Mon 8 Feb 10

I hope the disease hasn't spread, otherwise other trees could be in danger!

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porkpie says...
2:16pm Tue 9 Feb 10

reasonable75 wrote:
I hope the disease hasn't spread, otherwise other trees could be in danger!
Don't you think they would of checked that out and taken down any other trees while there.

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