Work is ongoing to save vandalized historic trees at Halifax Public Gardens
While experts in arboriculture are working to save nearly 30 historic trees that were vandalized in Halifax, it may take years to know how many of the trees will survive the damage, the supervisor of the Halifax Public Gardens said Monday.
Last month, a security guard at the Gardens discovered that strips of bark were removed around the trunk of many trees, most of which are between 50 and 200 years old.
Sean Street, the horticulture supervisor for the Gardens, says the cuts -- which appear to have been done with a hatchet or small axe -- resulted in more than $350,000 in damage.
"But that is just a number; some of these trees are priceless," Street said in an interview.
"You can't take $350,000 and find a couple 200-year-old trees and put them in the ground," he added.
The bark cutting -- called girdling -- is a way to kill a tree without cutting it down. If the cambium layer -- the part of the tree that produces new wood -- is damaged enough, the tree will die.
Four of the 32 damaged trees were not salvageable and were removed from the Gardens, Street said, adding that it's unclear how many of the remaining 28 vandalized trees will be lost due to the damage.
Longtime arborist Stan Kochanoff from Falmouth, N.S., is working with the Gardens' horticulture team to determine the best methods of cleaning and dressing the tree wounds in order to support healing.
Street said they are using coconut fibres to protect the trees' wounds and soon they will attempt bridge-grafting on the trees, which involves using healthy twigs called scion wood to connect healthy bark on either side of the wound.
The hope is that the trees were healthy enough before the injury and can survive off their existing nutrient reserves while the graft eventually reconnects the cambium layer around the bark.
"The longer the tree can survive with its own reserves, the more useful the bridge-grafts become, and you hope to hit the point where the tree has recovered and can feed itself," Street said.
This time next year, Street expects they'll be able to tell if the grafting was successful. "This will be a long, drawn-out thing," Street said.
Street's team will regularly monitor the health of the trees. For some of the younger trees, it may be clear in a year or so if they're showing signs of decline. For trees over 100 years old, it may take several years to see the impact of the damage.
Street is hopeful that "several" trees will survive, particularly the older ones with strong root systems, but he says it's too early to know.
At the time of the break-in and tree vandalism, there were no cameras installed at the Public Gardens or overnight security. That has since changed, and both overnight security and video cameras are now in place.
A Halifax Regional Police spokesperson said in an email the vandalism remains under investigation and police are asking anyone with information to contact them.
Kevin Osmond, senior supervisor of Halifax's urban forestry department, told reporters last month that whoever caused the damage "knew exactly what they were doing."
"They intentionally came out to damage this tree, to try and kill this tree," he said, gesturing to a 200-year-old weeping beech tree.
Street said part of what makes the act of vandalism so upsetting is that it's very unlikely a new tree will grow to be as old as some of the damaged trees at the Gardens.
"I hate to say it, but we may be in a situation with global warming and invasive pests where we can never grow a 200-year-old beech tree again," he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2022.
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.