AN East Perth community group hopes to divert a dead 141-year-old Victoria Gardens tree from wood chippers and utilise the wood in a commemorative way.
On July 31, the City of Perth will cut down the Hoop Pine after it died of “old age”.
East Perth Community Safety group Chairman Jeff Broun said he wanted to see the wood used as a plaque or park bench in the space.
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READ NOW“We would try to cut to cut it into lengths and dry it which would take 12 months and utilise the wood for plaques and commemorative purposes,” he said.
“Japan did it a while back and had a ceremony for the tree, it was really good.”
He said he was open to ideas from residents on how to use the wood so that it would remain “part of the community”.
City of Perth Chair Commissioner Eric Lumsden said attempts were made to revive the tree.
“Understanding the significance of the tree, the City tried various treatments to increase the life of the Hoop Pine,” he said.
“Unfortunately it did not respond and it has simply died from old age.
“It is now a danger to the community with the risk of falling limbs, or the tree falling over.”
He said the City was considering options to plant additional trees in the area to increase canopy cover.
City of Perth Arboriculture and Horticulture Parks technical officer Alan Dolphin will provide more information on the tree and tree management generally in East Perth at Victoria Gardens on Sunday, July 29 from 3pm to 4pm.