Dutch treat 1,000-year-old tree

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The sweet chestnut is hollow in the centre and has seven trunks

A team of 12 arboriculturists from Holland has paid 500 euros (£400)

each to travel to Kent to try to save a 1,000-year-old sweet chestnut

tree.

 

The tree, which has a 54ft girth and is over 100ft tall, is suffering

from a lack of oxygen to its root system and is having remedial

treatment.

 

The tree, in a Penshurst wood, is said to be in a " critical "

condition and could die within five years.

 

But it is hoped treatment will help it to live another 200 to 300

years.

 

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" We say it is not a tree, it is a system, " said arboriculturist team

leader Jeroen Heindyx.

 

" When a system is blocked because there is no air coming down then

the whole thing dies - just like we would die when our oxygen system

is blocked. "

 

Mr Heindyx said the team wanted to learn and share knowledge about

the ancient tree.

 

Dead branches are also being cut away from the canopy.

 

The tree is in a 44-acre wood which is open to the public as well as

home to Penshurst off-road cycle club.

 

In the longer term, a platform will be built round the tree to stop

visitors damaging its roots and allow more oxygen to reach them.

[Guest guest]

Are there many chesnuts growing around it because the apple dosn't fall to far from the tree, and with life some thing may have to go so others can grow. A mother never wishes to suffocates its child.--- On Fri, 5/23/08, heartwerk <jo.heartwork wrote:

heartwerk <jo.heartwork Dutch treat 1,000-year-old tree Date: Friday, May 23, 2008, 6:58 AM

 

 

The sweet chestnut is hollow in the centre and has seven trunks A team of 12 arboriculturists from Holland has paid 500 euros (£400) each to travel to Kent to try to save a 1,000-year-old sweet chestnut tree. The tree, which has a 54ft girth and is over 100ft tall, is suffering from a lack of oxygen to its root system and is having remedial treatment. The tree, in a Penshurst wood, is said to be in a "critical" condition and could die within five years. But it is hoped treatment will help it to live another 200 to 300 years. Share knowledge "We say it is not a tree, it is a system," said arboriculturist team leader Jeroen Heindyx. "When a system is blocked because there is no air coming down then the whole thing dies - just like we would die when our oxygen system is blocked." Mr Heindyx said the team wanted to learn and share knowledge about

the ancient tree. Dead branches are also being cut away from the canopy. The tree is in a 44-acre wood which is open to the public as well as home to Penshurst off-road cycle club. In the longer term, a platform will be built round the tree to stop visitors damaging its roots and allow more oxygen to reach them.