Sad Loss of a Majestic Old Tree
On Sunday 24th October, we lost a huge and statuesque Holm Oak at the London Street entrance, one of the oldest trees in Hedgemead Park. We are very grateful that no-one was hurt, a minor miracle given the tree came down in the middle of the day, when many would have been out and about.
The Council’s Tree Team were quickly on the scene and Margaret’s Hill closed to traffic. The sound of chain saws and a large chipping machine could be heard for almost three days as the gang wrestled with the enormous tangle of branches. All a very sorry end to a majestic old tree.
The Holm Oak is fascinating species in the Oak family, distinguished mainly by its unusual habit of keeping its leaves all year round. It’s therefore a wonderful habitat for all manner of birds and insects.
Many of us were left wondering what could have caused the tree to fall over for no apparent reason; after all, it looked perfectly healthy. The answer, according to the Council’s Tree Officer, is that the roots were diseased, which over time has undermined its stability.
Regrettably the tree’s demise has resulted in a lot of damage to the Park’s railings in Margaret’s Hill and to one pillar of the ornate Victorian gate. So, this much used entrance to the park is now sealed shut and the area cordoned off with barriers.
The Friends understand that the Council is commissioning an urgent survey of the gate pillar to determine what needs to be done to restore it, and therefore the proper function of the gates. As the entrance cannot be used until this happens, we hope that the remedial work will be expedited.
Meanwhile, the Council has given the Friends permission to take a small quantity of the wood as a memento. We plan to hand it to an artisan woodworker to make into something we can install in the park, possibly near where the tree stood.
Finally, as a small tribute, here is a picture of what the tree looked like in 2020.
