Open Spaces staff are planning the removal of a mature Golden Elm from the Ashburton Domain, after its trunk split during high winds and efforts to save it failed.

Community Services Group Manager Steve Fabish said the elm could be well over 100 years old, and possibly an original planting in the 37ha domain.

“We’re disappointed we couldn’t save this tree, but our arborists have carefully assessed it and it needs to come out. They’ve taken some branches off already to make it safe and it is likely to be removed towards the end of November, after the nearby tulip garden has passed its best.”

The elm has two trunks that have grown together and during high winds earlier this month, staff found a 15cm gap had developed. The tree was taped off and some branches removed so a full evaluation of the tree’s structure could be safely made.

Mr Fabish said the split likely developed over time and was made worse because of the high winds and extra weight on the branches as sap travelled to emerging flowers.

“This tree would have caused a lot of damage in the surrounding area if it had come down, not to mention it would have been a danger to domain users if allowed to remain.”

Earlier this month consultant arborists had also begun a project to assess all trees in the domain – each tree is being officially identified, its location mapped by GPS and its growth and condition assessed.

“We’re doing everything from the little maples to the large Wellingtonias and one of the comments we have already had back from the assessors is that we have a number of trees that are over mature.

“That means they are coming to the end of their natural life and more susceptible to the elements. Trees are living things and become fragile in their twilight years, but that is part of the cycle.

“We will create a longterm plan to replace these trees, as that keeps with our philosophy of continuous planting … one tree out, one tree in.”

The domain celebrated 150 years in 2014 and is based on an English/European theme, with many of the original trees imported. Some have already been replaced.

Mr Fabish said the general feel of the domain would not change as over-mature trees were replaced over time, though the odd new species would be introduced as appropriate.

“Trees are like livestock and sometimes you also get dead or diseased stock. A good example of that was on Oak Grove, where a line of badly decaying Malus Trilobata (Lebanese crabapple) was removed and some new trees put in. The art of managing trees means that your plans don’t often see a result for 30 or 40 years so you have to be able to visualise well, and these trees on Oak Grove will provide great shade and colour in the future.

“Because our trees grow in such public areas, we always try to communicate any major work to residents as widely as possible as part of our health and safety obligations.”