Axe looms over risky Greytown elms

FOR THE CHOP: Elm trees on Wood St are more than 100 years old and pose a safety risk, the council says.PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Three of the grand elm trees which have graced Wood St for more than 100 years watching Greytown take shape, are to be felled.

The trees' health has declined over many years and now three of the five elms must be removed by South Wairarapa District Council contractor Treescape on Monday.

"The trees have been on our radar for a while now," said Helen McNaught, council amenities manager. "It is not a decision we have made lightly, but the trees now pose immediate safety risk as they are carrying a large amount of dead wood."

Jan Eagle, whose mother Stella Bull fought to protect Greytown's trees, said she realised the elms could be a liability.

"I've got a family connection but I do realise trees have to be healthy, if they aren't healthy something has to be done," she said. "I will be very sad to see them go, they are a real link to Greytown's past."

She believed the trees were planted in about 1880 by early settler Joseph Meads, who also planted oak trees on a Small Farms Association subdivision around the same time.

The elms held childhood memories for Mrs Eagle - she remembered sitting beneath them watching convoys of Japanese prisoners of war being taken from Featherston to work in the market gardens.

"My dad gave me a hiding because he was terrified they were going to break out."

The prisoners always looked passive to her.

Mrs Eagle said family legend had it that her mother climbed a large elm to stop it being chopped down in the late 1960s or early 70s.

"The power board were keen on lopping trees down because of the power lines."

That started the tree-protection movement in Greytown, including the safeguarding of the five elms on Wood St and the rejuvenation of the Greytown Beautifying Society.

Mrs Eagle's brother, John Bull, a Wood St resident, said the trees had been there since he was born but every tree had its lifetime.

He said they were a bit of a danger, especially with an increase in people and traffic passing under them: "It's an accident ready to happen."

Some time ago the tops had been cut down, which led to the decay.

"They are nice trees but as soon as they cut the tops off, the rain rots the centre.

"I'm afraid with the deterioration, they won't be a specimen tree anymore.

"It's one of those things."

Mrs McNaught said with frequent traffic heading to the Blue School, it was time for the elms to go.

She said the rotting from the tops being cut down was not the only reason for the felling - there was some digging up of the ground near the trees.

"They have had a bit of a hard time."

It will take about three days for the elms to be removed.