Saving one of Stanley Park’s Venerable Landmarks
The famous old Hollow Tree, one of the most famous landmarks of is destined to come down. This tree, one of the Park’s ancient treasures, has been a tourist and visitor’s destination since the turn of the 20th century and is probably one of the Park’s most photographed sites. This week, though, the old hollow tree has been given another reprieve.
The Parks Board has offered an extension to a group who have been trying to restore the Stanley Park landmark. The Stanley Park Hollow Tree Conservations Society has been given three more months to raise the shortfall of $32,000 they need to restore the seven-centuries-old Western Red Cedar, one of ’s best known tourist attractions.
The venerable red cedar, reputedly over 1000 years old (older than the Magna Carta), has actually been dead for a few hundred years, and the hurricane force winds of November/December 2006 caused the supporting root base to splinter leaving the tree with a dangerous tilt. Like a famous old movie star, propped up to make her final appearance on stage, the hollow tree has been held up by cables, bolts and cement supports but now it seems futile to keep her erect. So the Parks Board has voted to lay her to rest. She was to be split up the centre so people can walk through her massive trunk and marvel at her girth and age, an ancient relic. But a group of tree-lovers was formed who want to keep the decript tree intact and standing.
The tree was 12 meters around and 17 meters at the base and once towered over the other trees in the park. At the turn of the 20th century it was a popular spot to visit and photograph; at that time you could back a horse-drawn coach or car into its hollow. Now the aged tree has split even more with age and shrunk considerably. She has lost her grandeur and lists at a 11-degree angle. The Parks Board says it poses a hazard to park visitors. The Conservation Society has been working to right the tree with a brace system, funded by donations from the public. The total cost of this project is an estimated $250,000.
