Work is ongoing to save vandalized historic trees at Halifax Public Gardens

Four of the 32 damaged trees were not salvageable and it may take years before it’s clear if attempts to save the remaining trees are successful

CITYnews halifax \ Canadian Press

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HALIFAX — The supervisor of the Halifax Public Gardens says some of the “top minds” in arboriculture are working to save nearly 30 historic trees that were vandalized three weeks ago.

Last month, a security guard at the Gardens discovered that strips of bark had been removed around the trunk of many trees, most of which are between 50 and 200 years old.

Sean Street, the horticulture supervisor for the Gardens, says the cuts — which appear to have been done with a hatchet or small axe — resulted in more than $350,000 in damage.

Cutting the bark around the tree in this way, which is called girdling, is often fatal to a tree.

Longtime arborist Stan Kochanoff from Falmouth, N.S., is working with the Gardens’ horticulture team to determine the best methods of cleaning and dressing the tree wounds in order to support healing.

Four of the 32 damaged trees were not salvageable, and Street says it may take years before it’s clear if attempts to save the remaining 28 trees are successful.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2022.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

The Canadian Press