Tree saved from the axe
The tree at The George Hotel is a female and bears loads of fruit which feeds many wild animals and birds.
WHEN a guest at The George Hotel saw a large Natal Plum (Harpephyllum caffrum) being cut down, he approached the owner of the hotel and the tree was saved.
Richard Chennells was removing the tree to allow for the further expansion of the yard at the back of the hotel where he wanted to build a beer garden.
Richard Aitken saw the work in progress and explained to Chennells the importance of the Natal Plum and that they are diecious species.
These trees produce a male and a female plant, as opposed to most trees where a single plant will produce both male and female parts.
This particular tree at The George is a female and bears loads of fruit which feeds many wild animals and birds.
A lucky break
The tree was saved when the contractor felling the tree had chainsaw problems and was not on site while the machine was being fixed.
It was during this delay that Aitken saw what was happening and managed to intervene.
Branches had already been cut off.
If the chainsaw had not give trouble, the tree could have been felled before the intervention.
At a small function, where Aitken erected a plaque recording the extraordinary event, Chennells said that he was unaware of the importance of the tree and its uniqueness.
He said that, although he felt the tree needed to make way for development, tree fellers should be awareness of the special properties of such trees and inform the owners before just felling.
