Every year, trees have to be felled in the capital, for the safety of passers-by and residents. At the end of July, according to the City of Paris, five trees had to be felled because they were threatening to fall. Among them was a remarkable tree, 80 years old and much-loved in the neighborhood, located on Place de Furstemberg in the 6th arrondissement. The felling of this tree has caused quite a stir, at a time when environmental associations are denouncing declining budgets for tree maintenance.
For several decades, this paulownia tree had become a symbol in this square in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, with its immense stature and the size of its trunk. Today, all that's left of the tree is its stump, which doesn't give the same effect on the photos, which have been amputated of an important element. For many local residents, this almost century-old tree was the image of the square, locatedbetween thechurch of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the house of Eugène Delacroix.
But for the town council, the tree had become too dangerous. Its root system had been weakened and damaged by rats, and the tree had not passed the trunk and branch strength test carried out beforehand. Although five new trees will be planted to replace those felled, on Place de Furstemberg and Place Laurent-Terzieff-et-Pascale-de-Boysson, it will be a number of years before a specimen is back in full form.
🌳In view of the emotion aroused by the felling of one of Paris's most emblematic listed trees, Place de Furstemberg, and 4 others of the same species, Place Laurent Terzieff, a few explanations are in order.
- Tangui Le Dantec (@TanguiLeDantec) July 29, 2023
Let's take a look at the life cycle of Paulownias.
🧵👇@AArbresCitoyens pic.twitter.com/iDFMT85ceI
Nowhere near as old as the black locust in Square Viviani, which is around 419 years old, this paulownia was considered a remarkable tree. There are almost 200 such trees in Paris, designated as such because of their imposing size, great age, picturesque shape or rarity as a species .
