The Wellingtonia, or Giant Redwood, with the twin peaks in Albert Park is dead. There are other larger specimens still alive in the park and younger redwoods that may take their place in the next hundred years.
The oldest known Wellingtonia is 3500 years old, according to ring count, so this particular tree is not going to make it into the record books, however much it dwarves the other species of trees around about.
Its leaves have turned as red as its trunk, and many of the inhabitants have already left.
All that remains is a for the tree surgeons to bring it down to ground.
What a shame. If you haven’t done so already, go and hit the trunk of the tree, it’s remarkably soft – for a tree trunk – so don’t go overboard or you’ll break your hand! The softness is nothing to do with the tree dying, you will find that the younger, live trees are the same.
I noticed this a few days ago. Such a shame to see a great tree like this on its way out. Neil I think the bark is soft like that as where the Sequoia come from on the california coast they needed to withstand forest fires. The soft pithy bark will smoulder but not cause too much damage to the trunk therefore allowing the tree to live on. Sadly that didnt help this one much in Albert park. I have fond memories of this tree as it was always where we would gather for our summer PE lessons at Carswell and I remember standing facing its huge trunk whilst counting out loud for hide and seek.
Trees; Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.