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Departments > Parks, Recreation and Culture > Parks Division > Horse Chestnut Trees on Cook Street QuicklinksThe Horse Chestnut trees that line Cook Street Village are among the oldest trees in Victoria and contribute to the neighbourhood's unique character and ambience. These trees make up some of the 40,000 trees that the City of Victoria manages within its parks and boulevards. Many of Victoria's street trees are nearing the end of their expected life cycle. The City is keeping close tabs on its valuable tree inventory to prevent property damage and injury, and is committed to the sustainable management of Cook Street's Horse Chestnut trees for the enjoyment of future generations. Removal of Five Decaying TreesAdvanced decay caused by White Mottled Rot, caused five mature Horse Chestnut trees on Cook Street to lose their structural integrity and pose a risk to public safety. These five street trees were estimated to be over 100 years old. To prevent injury to people and property, the City removed these decaying trees and replaced them with five, new 3 - 5 metre (10 - 15 foot), 7 - 10 centimetre (3 - 4 inch) diameter Horse Chestnut trees in January 2010. A "demonstration tree" was planted in front of Starbucks in December 2009 to provide the community an example of what the five new trees would look like. This decay pathogen, also known as Ganoderma, reduces the strength of a tree's wood and roots. The five trees were significantly vulnerable in the event of snow or a windstorm. Three of the trees were located in Cook Street Village, and two were located just south of the Village in front of two residential buildings. An independent arborist assessment conducted 10 years ago recommended the removal of these trees by 2010. Two assessments conducted by private firms in 2009 identified the trees as a "high risk for failure" and recommended their immediate removal. Public ConsultationA fact sheet was developed to help explain the project, which was mailed to neighbourhood residents inviting them to attend an Information Booth and Open House to learn more. An ad inviting the community to these events also ran in the Moss Rock Review, the neighbourhood newspaper.
ScheduleThe removal of the five decaying trees and their stumps took place on Monday, January 18, 2010 from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. and was completed within a few days . The replacement trees were planted that same week in the same locations. Every effort was made to minimize disruptions to nearby businesses and residents during the removal and replacement process. The removal and replacement of these five trees was done in conjunction with BC Hydro as part of a new partnership between the City and the crown corporation. Much of the wood from the five trees was donated to the Victoria Island Woodworkers Guild for woodworking projects. BC Hydro PartnershipThe City of Victoria and BC Hydro have partnered to increase proactive regular maintenance, inspections and assessments of Victoria's 20,000 aging street trees. These trees require more attention in the form of regular pruning to prevent injury or property damage, and to protect them from disease. Up to July 2009, BC Hydro had been responsible for pruning only City street trees that grow under utility wires. The work had been done on a four-year cycle, with Parks crews pruning other City street trees as needed. The new partnership will allow Parks crews to do all required tree work at one time thereby creating efficiencies and reducing costs. In the past, it was not unusual for two different crews to work on the same tree at two different times. The partnership is made possible by a five-year, $400,000 funding agreement with BC Hydro that the City will match from its urban forest capital fund. It is BC Hydro's first agreement of this kind with a local government in British Columbia. In recent years, BC Hydro has partnered with the City to help purchase and plant more than 1,000 new trees which had been removed from city streets and parks in the interests of public safety. This new agreement developed as a result of the success of the work done under BC Hydro's Community Regreening Program. Contact UsFor more information, contact: Todd Stewardson
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