Historic Nanaimo tree gets needed support
Parks carpenters extend tree's life with attractive bracing
NEWS RELEASE - Distributed March 6, 2014 4:10 PM
Summary
One of Nanaimo's oldest planted trees has been given an extension on life thanks to the efforts of City Parks Carpenters who installed much needed bracing on the trees heavy limbs. The tree, know as a Camperdown Elm, Ulmus Glabra 'Camperdonii', is located in the cemetery and is estimated to have been planted over 100 years ago.
Records indicate the tree is a clone from the original Camperdown Elm discovered in the forest at Camperdown House in Dundee Scotland around 1835, by David Taylor, the Earl of Camperdown's Head Forester. Camperdown Elms were created by grafting a cutting from the original tree to the trunk of a Wych Elm, Ulmus glabra.
Link to Strategic Plan: The preservation of historical trees are an important part of Nanaimo's environmental and cultural heritage.
Key Points
- Poor pruning practices in the distant past had weakened some of the tree's major limbs.
- Because the tree is unique, City staff felt it was worth the effort to create bracing to save it.
Quotes
"This is a significant tree that staff felt was worth saving. The new bracing was installed just before last month's snow fall in Nanaimo; it's performing well."
