Two giant ash trees felled

GEORGE NEWS - A local environmental activist from the Landmark Foundation, Monica Vaccaro, expressed her dismay at the felling of two large trees on the George Museum property during renovations of the building and terrain.

Their exact age is unknown but they were well established by 1991. The trees are visible in an architect's drawing from 1991 as well as two photos dating from 1991 and 1998 respectively.

Vaccaro says they were American ash trees. "They were magnificent and gave shade to people sitting around. They were trees for the community, just like the museum is a place for the community. They were part of our heritage."

According to Colette Scheermeyer, Heritage Western Cape acting CEO, the trees were not formally protected under the National Heritage Resources Act and they fell outside of the mandate of Heritage Western Cape.

George Municipality's head of communications, Chantèl Edwards, says the land is provincial property and the municipality cannot comment on approval for the removal of the trees as they do not resort under the local authority's jurisdiction.

Tania Colyn, head of communications at the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, who speaks on behalf of the George Museum, referred the newspaper to the Department of Public Works, saying they were responsible for the renovation work.

Jandre Bakker, spokesperson for the Public Works Department, had not responded to a query from the newspaper at the time of going to print and therefore the reason for the felling of the trees could not be established for certain.

Vaccaro says she was told that the trees had hindered the painting process of the exterior of the museum.

An architect's drawing dated 1991 also indicates the two trees behind the museum building.

George Herald recently also reported on the cutting down of an old Spanish chestnut tree at the Memorium Street graveyard. Parks and Recreation manager Nosidima Vumindaba has since responded to a query in this regard, saying the department received a request to cut it down on 26 October after several complaints of dead branches breaking off and causing a traffic hazard. "The tree is not a protected species and we have decided to cut it down because it was dead already. The tree was cut down after the erection of the [new] fence."

The two trees cut off recently during renovations by Public Works can be seen sticking out at the back of the museum building in this photo dating back to 1991.