Volunteers defend ‘miracle of nature’ tree from trophy hunters
SECURITY patrols have been enlisted to protect a rare tree which has flowered for the first time in 100 years.
Nature-lovers have taken it upon themselves to guard the Emmenopterys henryi in Roath Park, Cardiff, following its unexpected blossoming during the heatwave.
Volunteers said they were shocked to see “idiots” trying to scale the tree to take away a flower as a trophy, and the council warned that anyone found picking petals could be charged under the Theft Act.
The Chinese tree has produced creamy-white flowers for the first time since it was planted more than 100 years ago, and is only the sixth tree of the species to blossom in the UK since 1907.
It is believed that a very harsh winter followed by the extremely hot summer has coaxed the usually shy flowers out this year.
Pam Goulding, 52, was admiring the flowers, but said: “I saw some lads trying to climb it because so many people were looking at it.
“They were shouting they were going to be the first person to pick it in 100 years. They were idiots who could cause a lot of damage.”
Now Mrs Goulding and other park regulars say they will carry out their own patrol along with the park rangers to protect the rare blooms. She said: “I’ll be here every day with some of my friends to keep an eye on it – it is a miracle of nature.”
Mary Mcgarry, a local councillor, criticised those threatening the tree, and warned that people who tried to take blooms away could be prosecuted under the Theft Act.
She said: “This is shocking. We are so lucky to have so many lovely trees and why would anyone want to damage them? This tree is lovely and needs to be protected.”
She added: “It is a criminal offence to pick any flowers in a public park.”
Gareth Stamp, a community park ranger, said: “This really is something special to see. I must have walked past this tree a million times but I never expected to see it in flower – and who knows, it happens so rarely, maybe I never will again.”
Named after the Irish botanist and sinologist Augustine Henry, the tree can grow to 150ft (45m) tall and live for 1,000 years.
It was described by renowned plant hunter Ernest “Chinese” Wilson as “one of the most strikingly beautiful trees of the Chinese forests”.