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
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.