Latest News

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

130-year-old elm expected to come down Thursday

By: Aldo Santin

Posted: 02/22/2012 9:53 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies) | Last Modified: 02/22/2012 10:48 AM | Updates

Wendy Land beside a dying "Wolseley Elm " in her front yard in summer 2011. (PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES)

Wendy Land is losing an old friend Thursday.

The elm tree that has stood on Land’s yard on Wolseley Avenue for 130 years is expected to be removed Thursday, a victim of Dutch Elm disease.

"My family has lived in this home for 30 years," Land said this morning. "Losing this tree is proof that the city is losing the fight against Dutch Elm disease."

Land believes the tree in her front yard is a sister tree to the iconic Wolseley Elm that was removed in 1960.

City officials marked the tree for removal last summer, which prompted Land and several others to hold a wake for the tree. She said the city notified her today that city crews will bring the tree down Thursday.

"Twenty years ago the city announced it had defeated Dutch Elm disease… but after some cutbacks in the last few years, the disease has gotten ahead of the city."

Land said she is part of a group that wants the city to increase its Dutch Elm disease control budget, adding she’s fearful the city will lose too many of its prized trees.

The City of Winnipeg has the largest urban population of elm trees in North America but even city officials acknowledge they are losing 4,000 to 5,600 elm trees every year to the disease.

About 5,600 city trees were lost to the disease in 2010, a 14 per cent increase from the previous year.

Infected trees must be removed immediately to prevent the disease from being spread to neighbouring trees. Land said the budget cutback has resulted in the city not removing diseased trees, which results in the disease spreading. She said that’s how her tree became infected.

"This is the fourth tree in four years on our street that has become infected," Land said, adding the disease has spread because the city failed to take the proper action.

The city is bringing down its draft operating budget next week. Land said she and her group will be pressuring councillors to increase spending on Dutch Elm disease control.

History

Updated on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:27 AM CST: Corrects that Wendy Land lives on Wolseley Avenue

10:42 AM: corrects typo

10:48 AM: Updates to say tree will come down Thursday.

(You must be logged in to post your reaction)

Your reaction?

More Latest News

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.