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A gigantic 164-year-old healthy silver maple at 3808 Old Orchard with a world-class girth of 188 inches is likely to be chopped down. NDG has reportedly lost about half of its staff of arborists over the years and as a result less maintenance and protection has been devoted to the heritage of trees that help make the area well-loved.
The tree, which grew long before NDG was well-populated area, has grown onto much of what's now the sidewalk, making it difficult for the small sidewalk-clearing vehicles to get around.
A borough official has publicly cited "poorly-healed wounds" and "structural defects," in the decision to kill the tree but in fact the wound is likely an unfilled trunk cavity which can be easily rectified simply by filing it.
Oxford, Marcil and Old Orchard alone have lost dozens old silver maples in the last few years, and just this week the borough rid itself of yet another healthy world class silver maple (girth: 175 inches) at 5578 NDG Ave. near Old Orchard.
NDG is renowned for its shaded canopy of old trees, and has a unique heritage of some of Canada's biggest and oldest silver maple maples.
It's cheaper to cut the biggest and oldest trees than it is to care for them, leading to the regrettable eradication strategy being employed today.
A gigantic 164-year-old healthy silver maple at 3808 Old Orchard with a world-class girth of 188 inches is likely to be chopped down. NDG has reportedly lost about half of its staff of arborists over the years and as a result less maintenance and protection has been devoted to the heritage of trees that help make the area well-loved.The tree, which grew long before NDG was well-populated area, has grown onto much of what's now the sidewalk, making it difficult for the small sidewalk-clearing vehicles to get around.
A borough official has publicly cited "poorly-healed wounds" and "structural defects," in the decision to kill the tree but in fact the wound is likely an unfilled trunk cavity which can be easily rectified simply by filing it.
Oxford, Marcil and Old Orchard alone have lost dozens old silver maples in the last few years, and just this week the borough rid itself of yet another healthy world class silver maple (girth: 175 inches) at 5578 NDG Ave. near Old Orchard.NDG is renowned for its shaded canopy of old trees, and has a unique heritage of some of Canada's biggest and oldest silver maple maples.
It's cheaper to cut the biggest and oldest trees than it is to care for them, leading to the regrettable eradication strategy being employed today.
I suppose the powers that be probably know what is best for the community, but each time I read about cutting down an ancient tree, especially one that is still healthy, I shudder. Imagine something 140 years old will simply be removed from the face of the earth. It seems such a pitiful prospect to imagine. It reminds me of reading tales about hunters shooting and killing old elephants.
ReplyDeleteI really hate that they are killing a healthy, living tree because a snowplow can't deal with it. I have walked that street many times in all seasons and love that tree. There is another sidewalk for people to pass on if they really can't face stepping around a little pile of snow next to it. That tree does so much for that block. We can't let it live because one sidewalk isn't enough for a few months every year?
ReplyDeleteHaving worked on city snow removal crews years ago in Montreal, that tree would not be much of an obstacle. Yes you would have to go around it like so many other obstacles on sidewalks but that's why your machine has a steering system. Access for wheelchairs is a different problem but there too I don't see why the city can't build a full-width sidewalk around the tree. Sure it would jut out into the street and you would lose half a parking space. Other cities do it. If it's well-marked, it wouldn't be a problem (unless you owned half a car!)
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame. I had the pleasure of seeing that old tree a few feet away from my balcony during the 11 months that I lived on Old Orchard in 2015, and it was truly a highlight of that street for everyone who lives there. But I always imagined that I would soon hear a massive crunch, only to look out my window and see a pulverized car. However, even on some of the windiest days, that tree didn't budge. Sad end to such an amazing creation.
ReplyDeleteI recall what was claimed to be the oldest tree in Montreal used to be on the east side of Ponsard Avenue a short distance south of Queen Mary Road.
ReplyDeleteThat tree was likewise removed in the late 1960s for similar reasons or possibly it had been diseased.
Perhaps someone who had been a resident in the area could provide us with more details about it?
There once was an enormous tree on the east side of Lemieux Avenue north of Cote Ste. Catherine Road right next to the existing seniors' Pollack Residence at 5757.
In recent years throughout the city both Lombardy Poplars and Willow trees have slowly died off and not been replaced, presumably due to disease and certain foreign ravaging beetles.
let's save the tree... don't allow this to happen!
ReplyDeleteI, as the person and home owner, living under this tree, have serious doubts about the health of said tree. 7 years ago, a "branch" fell. It took out the entire front of our house - both balconies, as well as damaging our roof. At the time our neighbor was loading his car for a family trip and it really is nothing short of a miracle that no one was hurt. And yes, we have insurance .. It doesn't cover half of what you'd hope.
ReplyDeleteThe other part of the story is the lack of understanding and intelligence on the part of the city workers. Knocking on the tree is not sufficient to determine whether the tree is healthy. It's all they've ever done to assess.
The tree is beautiful, yes. The tree is old and historic yes. The tree in its present state is a threat to us and our homes.
It's not so simple.
It really bothers me when I read articles like this one. However, the reason I was bothered when I read the article's title, and the reason I was bothered when I finished reading were two very different reasons. I am a certified arborist. I am certified through the International Society of Arboriculture and I absolutely love trees. Especially remarkably old and large trees. I am a huge advocate for taking a preservationist approach to tree care. So when I read this "article's" title, I was quite concerned about the removal of such an old beautiful tree. However, upon reading the article, I was instantly bothered by the ignorance and finger-pointing in paragraphs above. NDG may have lost a few of its arboricultural technicians over the last few years but many have been replaced by extremely competent and qualified arborists, many of whom I know personally and for whom I have a lot of professional respect. It's true, with fewer technicians the borough has less resources to devote to tree maintenance, however, from the sounds of it, this tree's structural problems have been developing for many many years and it is not the recent loss of technicians that has led to the need for its removal. What bothered me the most about the "article" is that the author claims that the level of risk of the tree can be mitigated by simply filling the cavity in the trunk, implying that the borough simply doesn't want to dish out the cash to pay for the maintenance of a historic tree that has the potential to be saved. This is hogwash. The practice of filling cavities in a tree does absolutely NOTHING to improve the structure of a tree. It is an outdated practice that almost no municipality, province, state, or respected tree care company employs in this day in age. There are no data to support this myth that filling cavities helps improve the structure of a tree and there is plenty of research that shows that filling a tree's cavity can do more harm than good.
ReplyDeleteI am the first person to get behind preserving a tree that is going to be removed when it doesn't need to be. But before writing something condemning someone for removing a tree that doesn't need to be, do your research.
And FYI, "sounding" or "knocking the tree" as one reader writes, is a practice that is recognized by the SCA (Society of Consulting Arborists) for assessing a tree for cavities. With enough knowledge and expertise, an arborist can interpret the sounds to preliminarily determine the presence of cavities and their extent.
Hello Heidi
ReplyDeleteAs much as I hate to see the tree taken down your safety is much more important .As someone had suggested perhaps the wood can be used for something.
Dear Chris Robinson,.. thank you so much for your reply. I wish you would come and inspect said tree. Years ago when the branch fell on our home, the "expert" they called in was a person who was afraid to go up in the "cherry-picker" lift to examine the tree, so she didn't. While knocking and tapping may be endorsed and respectable ways to assess a trees health, can it really be all? I am no arborist... I am however a worried homeowner.
ReplyDeleteAnd FYI .. we are a group of homeowners who have called the city on a regular basis since the last branch came down, to have a proper inspection done - all to no avail. And if they have inspected it, then no one has bothered to let any of us know.
The big old trees on our street really do need to be inspected. Mr. Robinson, if there is anything you can do to help this happen, I'd be eternally grateful.
h
Je crois que ce dont nous aurions besoin ici c'est d'un avis externe (d'un arboriste indépendant et sans conflit d'intérêt).
ReplyDeleteBonjour,
ReplyDeleteVeuillez prendre connaissance de la réponse de Russell Copeman, maire de l'arrondissement Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce: http://on.fb.me/1J5HPTu
Merci
Etienne Brunet
I read with interest Mr. Copemans letter to us all. In the day CTV interviewed me Mr. Peter McQueen was here also talki to the reporter. He said to me that the city decided the night before the tree was too unhealthy to keep and that it was coming down. Mr. Copeman, is this the information that you have also.
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to add .. In all the years I have lived here I have never seen snow removal in the street have a problem.
My street was the most beautiful in the Point, then they cut the great Maple and the giant oak and the street was loathsome and ugly ever after..
ReplyDelete