A large English oak tree, widely considered to be a Shallow Lake landmark, may not be coming down after all.
The Township of Georgian Bluffs says staff was left with no other choice but to remove the 150-year-old tree on 2nd Street after diagnosing it with oak wilt initially. However, the town shared in a new statement late on Monday afternoon that oak wilt is not the culprit.
An arborist brought in stated there was oak wilt present, and staff monitoring the tree over the past year observed signs of decline, including extensive dieback in the upper canopy. In addition, large branches have been breaking off due to recent strong winds, posing a safety concern for pedestrians and drivers.
However, the town now says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was contacted and they determined oak wilt is not the issue. Despite that, the historic tree is still "in a state of significant decline," and town staff are "continuing to seek additional professional opinions to better understand its condition, and determine whether portions of the tree can be safely retained or whether full removal will ultimately still be required," according to a statement from the town.
There will be no work commencing at the site until a full review is completed. Should removal ultimately be required, the township is exploring opportunities to preserve part of the tree as a permanent commemorative feature. More updates to follow.
