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Majestic post oak still standing

Posted on June 28, 2012June 28, 2012 by Staff

The post oak tree across from the Carrboro Century Center on Greensboro Street had been scheduled to be cut down because of safety concerns, but that has now been put on hold pending further evaluation. Photo by Robert Dickson

By Rose Laudicina
Staff Writer

After being put on the chopping block, a mature post oak in Carrboro had a number of citizens speaking out to save it from being removed.

Referred to as “Carrboro’s Majestic Post Oak” in email exchanges between the Town of Carrboro, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and concerned residents, the tree is located on Greensboro Street, across from the Carrboro Century Center.

The tree was scheduled to be cut down on Wednesday, June 26, after the town’s staff arborist discovered significant decay in the stem, more commonly known as the base or trunk of the tree, Carrboro Public Works director George Seiz said.

Through testing, the arborist determined that a significant portion of the tree was hollow and that there was decay in the roots that help support the tree.

“Not only did our staff arborist initially discover the problem and express concern, but we then brought in the tree experts who had helped us in the past with nurturing that tree,” Seiz said.

Those experts evaluated the tree and also found it to be hollow.

On June 5 Seiz presented the findings to the board of aldermen, telling them the deteriorating health of the tree caused safety concerns.

“Based on [the hollowness], on the proximity of it to cars and people and the location of the tree, that is why it was initially recommended that the tree be taken down,” Seiz said.

However, a number of citizens, including N.C. Botanical Garden assistant director for conservation Johnny Randall and Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, expressed concern over the tree’s removal.

“We must keep this tree,” Kinnaird said in an email. “Carrboro’s cityscape would be much the poorer without it.”

The group of citizens told the town and board members that according to many professional botanists and ecologists, although the post oak is hollow it doesn’t necessarily pose any safety threat and that as long as the limbs look healthy and the tree isn’t leaning, there is no need for immediate concern.

They asked that the town refrain from removing the post oak so other options could be explored.

“I think some of the folks in the community were asking that we hold off,” Seiz said. “Based on the community’s wishes we have to take a look at this before we proceed.”

Seiz said he hopes to involve the community and other key experts in discussions on what to do regarding the tree.

In the meantime, Carrboro’s majestic post oak will remain as is.

“That old post oak saved itself,” Randall said, “by standing stalwart to everything from the first settlers to Carrboro, Yankees, dirt road paving, parking lot construction, more Yankees, drought, the early ravages of old age and now through its charisma.”

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