Hundred-year-old tembusu tree in St George's Church to be felled over ill health

Audrey Tan Straits Times 16 Nov 17;

SINGAPORE - A tembusu heritage tree which has been deemed unhealthy and a possible safety risk will be felled on Thursday afternoon (Nov 16).

The 30m-tall tree of more than a hundred years old is located within the premises of St George's Church in Minden Road. It was found by an arborist to have hollows in its trunks. Its bark was also charred in certain areas.

The church plans to use the wood from the tree to make a memorial bench.

The tree had apparently been struck by lightning several times over the years, a church representative told The Straits Times on Thursday.

Preparatory work was ongoing when The Straits Times visited the church at about 9am. There were "Tree Felling" signs warning people to keep clear, as well as diagrams showing drop zones where branches could fall. The roofs of the church nearest to the tree were also covered with tarpaulin.

The church had decided to get the tree inspected after a tembusu tree fell in the Singapore Botanic Gardens in February, killing a woman.

An arborist from ArborCulture was hired around July, and investigations later found that the tree was unhealthy and may pose a risk of falling.

The unhealthy tembusu tree at St George’s Church on Nov 16, 2017. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
"The decision to cut down the tree was made to safeguard the safety of parishioners, and the building itself," said the church representative.

The church had been gazetted a national monument in 1978 for its historical and architectural significance. It was designed by British architect William Henry Stanbury, and built in 1910 to cater to British soldiers living in the Tanglin barracks.

As the tree is a heritage tree, the National Parks Board (NParks) was informed that it would be felled, and its arborists did their own checks. The Straits Times has reached out to NParks for comment.

There are 265 trees under NParks' heritage tree scheme, which aims to conserve Singapore's mature trees. To be considered a heritage tree, the tree must have a girth of more than 5m, and/or have botanical, social, historical, cultural and/or aesthetical value.