Covenanter’s Oak – Dalzell Estate, North Lanarkshire

In August 2008, after heavy rain, a large wound was torn in the main stem as one of three major scaffold limbs collapsed. In addition to this large wound the tree had an open crack from ground level to circa 2m running across the whole diameter of the main stem and predisposing the remaining scaffold limbs to separate above the root collar in adverse weather.

In the autumn, Perth based Aboretum Internationale Ltd installed an emergency bracing system to stabilise the remaining stems, until a more permanent solution could be designed.

The final compromise consists of a pair of steel cable braces with nylon slings around the scaffold limbs. The bracing system is in turn reinforced by two steel props, each installed to support the pair of scaffold limbs arising from both halves of the split stem. The steel propping is fixed with bolts into concrete pads at ground level.

Simply to allow nature to take its course would have resulted in the early demise of the tree removing an important cultural heritage and, perhaps more importantly, an increasingly rare and endangered natural habitat.

• For more information about Aboretum Internationale Ltd visit www.arboretum-intl.com.