245-year-old live oak from Revolutionary War battle freed from chains
Arborists in South Carolina are working to save a 300-year-old live oak tree by removing metal chains and cables that were installed decades ago. The metal supports, originally intended to protect the tree, have become embedded and are now restricting the tree's growth.
Why it matters
This project illustrates the complexities of historical preservation and the unintended consequences of past conservation efforts on natural ecosystems.
Specialist arborists have begun careful restoration work in South Carolina to save a 300-year-old southern live oak that stood near one of the final major battles of the American Revolutionary War. The huge tree stands at the historic Eutaw Springs battlefield in Orangeburg County. It survived musket fire, artillery attacks and centuries of harsh weather. But support systems added decades ago to hold its split trunk together have now become a danger. Heavy iron chains and steel cables wrapped around the branches have grown into the bark, putting pressure on the tree and blocking the movement of water and nutrients through its living tissue. Crews from SavATree, a specialist tree care company, are carrying out a multi-stage restoration project.
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