A classic evergreen beacon in Claremont, Arderne Gardens, renowned for its lush botanical beauty, recently suffered an unfortunate loss when one of its iconic trees fell.
Paul Barker, who works for Friends of the Arderne Gardens as a horticulturist and consulting arborist, informed the People’s Post of this tragedy, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday 4 October. He said this champion Turkey oak (Quercus cerris) leaned and tumbled over onto the Main Road, blocking the north-bound carriageway.
“The magnificent tree stood in Main Road for more than 170 years and was the largest of its type in South Africa,” Barker related.
“This particular Turkey oak was planted by the Arderne family, after whom Arderne Gardens is named, in the 1840s. The tree was proclaimed and protected under the National Forests Act.”
He added the tree, as the one long-sturdy constant on its spot in the area for so long, bore witness to the sweeping changes that came with the passing years.
“The cause of the tree falling over was rot of the structural root system on the tree,” Barker explained. “The tree was so large it took a team of tree fellers two days to log the timber. All that remains today is the uprooted stump of this once-glorious champion.”
The incident was reported to the City’s Recreation and Parks Department. According to a statement from the City, a standby tree emergency team was promptly dispatched on receiving a call from the community and identified the gentle giant as a Turkish oak.
“The tree obstructed Claremont Main Road, affecting both incoming and outgoing traffic. Fortunately, no injuries were sustained in the incident and it caused damage to the road curbing and a streetlight pole.”
Native to Europe and parts of Asia, the City said, this Turkish oak stood at an impressive height of approximately 25 m, with a spread of 16 m and a trunk diameter of 1,2 metres.
Barker and the City seem to part company over the tree’s age and when it was planted. “Although the exact planting date is unknown it is estimated to have been planted in the early to mid-20th century, making the tree approximately 80 to 100 years old,” the City said. “The tree was likely planted by a member of the Arderne family to showcase the diverse tree species in Arderne Gardens.”
It said the primary factors contributing to the tree’s fall may have included above-average rainfall, strong gale-force winds and previous storms. Additionally, susceptibility to heart rot, a fungal disease affecting the tree’s core, may have played a role.
These factors collectively weakened the tree, making it vulnerable to toppling.
“Champion trees enjoy protected status and those in the city are a part of our history,” said the Mayco member for community services and health, Patricia van der Ross.
“Their role in the eco-system and ensuring a healthier city is invaluable. While we are sad to see it has succumbed to the severe weather it will continue to benefit the garden.”
Its wood will be repurposed and re-used within Arderne Gardens, she added, “ensuring it continues to contribute to the beauty and sustainability of the garden.”
This incident marks the second fallen champion tree in the past two years, following the loss of the great Cork oak in 2021, which has reduced the total count from six to four in the garden.
Arderne Gardens is a historic public garden featuring a diverse collection of indigenous and exotic plant species and is known for its champion trees and offers visitors a serene natural environment to explore and enjoy.
The gardens continue to be a place of natural wonder and tranquillity and efforts to maintain and protect its botanical treasures are ongoing in preserving and caring for its remarkable collection of trees, the City concluded.
There are currently 13 champion trees in the city. Champion trees are recognised for their exceptional size, age, aesthetic appeal, cultural significance, historic value, or tourist attraction.
The remaining champion trees in Arderne Gardens include the Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla), Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla), Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis), and Queensland Kauri (Agathis robusta).
The significance of the recognition of champion trees is that it has protected status under the National Forests Act.
In terms of the Act, “no person may cut, disturb, damage or destroy any protected tree or possess, collect, remove, transport, export, purchase, sell, donate or in any other manner acquire or dispose of any protected tree or any forest product derived from a protected tree, except under a licence granted by the Minister or in terms of an exemption from the provisions.”
