Provincial Park workers took a chainsaw to a Regina Beach tree Wednesday afternoon, but they shaved only one limb off it’s bark.
Earlier this summer, the province conducted a safety assessment and deemed the tree potentially hazardous. But when workers went to cut it down, residents protested by standing between the tree and the chainsaws.
Residents said they were told a limb was cut off in late July because a child fell off the tree. The Ministry of Parks is now saying that’s not true.
Officials say part of the 60 year old green ash tree were rotting.
“That tree was identified as being a potential risk,” said Karen Webb with the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport. “There were some signs that it might not be its healthiest. It’s quite old, especially for a tree of that kind, and so there’s a risk that during a large snowstorm or wind storm it could come down and cause some significant damage.”
An arborist hired by the province is also recommending adding some bracing to the tree to ensure its stability.