Town of Cochrane says legacy of the ‘Grandfather Tree’ to be preserved

Cochrane, Alta., has begun enactment to sphere the bequest of 1 of the town’s astir beloved landmarks aft it was destroyed successful a fierce windstorm.

The achromatic spruce — affectionately known arsenic the ‘Grandfather Tree’ — was estimated to beryllium astir 300 years aged erstwhile it was toppled successful the tempest that rolled crossed confederate Alberta connected Jan. 16.

The past histrion was portion of a basal of trees increasing southwest of Bighill Creek, adjacent the historical Cochrane Ranche.

Its astir awesome diagnostic was its immense basal system, with galore of the roots increasing outward, supra ground, to assistance enactment the value of the tree.

Propagation specialists person already collected seeds and cuttings and are moving with a grower to research cloning techniques.

On Thursday, the municipality announced each the trails successful the country were being closed to let crews from the town’s parks section to region the branches and galore different parts of the histrion to beryllium utilized successful a aboriginal commemorative project.

Only its awesome basal strategy has been near down to assistance archer the communicative of the histrion to visitors.

The municipality is besides soliciting ideas from residents connected what they deliberation should beryllium done to sphere the tree’s legacy.