Massive tree falls in Beacon Hill Park
A massive tree has fallen in Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park, requiring a large cleanup effort by city staff.
Parks department crews were on hand early Monday morning cutting the 18-metre Cottonwood into one to 1.5-metre sections.
They could be seen cleaning up loose branches from the fallen tree that had also fallen to the ground.
The fallen tree is seen cut into sections. May 15, 2023 (CTV News)
The city believes the tree came down on Sunday after the combined lean and the weight of the tree caused the root system to fail.
In an emailed statement to CTV News, the city says "in 2021, we assessed the tree and pruned to reduce end weight and manage the weight [and] canopy."
The tree fell in a wooded area of the park on the east side of Douglas Street, about 70 metres south of the entrance to Beacon Hill Park’s Circle Drive.
City staff say the fallen tree was one of two cottonwoods that were growing against one another with a shared root system.
Because the fallen tree was smaller than the existing older and much larger tree, it developed a pronounced lean as it grew over time.
"The weight of the leaning tree eventually reached the point where it overcame the structural strength of the tree and unfortunately the tree failed," said the city in a statement.
"There was no decay [or rot] noted."
Parks staff working on the clean up told CTV News that all loose material has been removed from the site. The section of the park where the tree fell will remain behind yellow caution tape and closed to park users until the area is cleared.
Crews are expected to return to the area with heavy equipment on Tuesday to remove the remaining large sections of tree. Once the area is cleared it will be reopened for park use.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.