Winterthur’s Martin Doster lost the battle against the city and had to watch his 130-year-old beech tree being felled
The city fells a 130-year-old copper beech on private property. She has become a security risk. Tree experts disagree.
Nature Martin Doster stands in disbelief in front of his house and watches as workers saw down his 130-year-old red beech on his property on behalf of the city on Wednesday, March 8th. Guarded by several police officers, heavy machines cut up the tree of the century piece by piece. “It hurts so much,” says Doster, who has to watch the scene from afar. Since the 1930s, the property at the intersection of Römerstrasse and Pflanzschulstrasse, including the tree, has been owned by the family. “This is property damage. There is no reason to cut down this healthy tree, »says Doster. “It’s a scandal, especially in the city of Winterthur, which prides itself on being a garden city.” Doster has been resisting the city cutting down his tree for months.
Basically healthy
The lack of understanding is also great for Patrick Staffa. The Winterthur specialist for tree reports says: “There is no danger from this tree. It just needs a few maintenance measures.” The crack in the crotch with the local rot is unproblematic with a static crown anchorage. Doster installed such an anchor days before the felling. The data from the Resistograph measurement by Staffa show that the tree is healthy at its core. He also observes the tree felling from the side of the road and says: “Today it is no longer possible for the city to build up such valuable biomass. The value of this red beech cannot be overestimated.»
Final thought
It is very rare for the city police to accompany tree felling campaigns in this form. “In this case, the reason was that we had to fell the tree against the will of the owner,” says Michael Wirz, media spokesman for the Winterthur city police. The city and Martin Doster have been at odds for months. According to Wirz, the owner was repeatedly informed verbally and in writing that he had to take security measures. He did not comply with the requests, so the city had the tree cut back as a last resort. “To restore security,” as Wirz says. He is referring to an expert opinion from the city, according to which the tree has a large crack in the trunk and must be felled. “We have never seen a report from Doster.”
Under special protection
Doster does not accept that as such. He had the condition of the tree checked by two different experts. Both would have attested to a healthy tree. “History is twisted by the city,” he says. In December he submitted the expert letter to the city, according to which there was no danger from the entire property. “The city simply wants to demonstrate its power here,” says Doster. The city council itself put the tree under protection in 1954, as a letter from that time shows. “It was forbidden to change anything in the form. I wasn’t allowed to cut branches.” The protection was only lifted with the introduction of the building and zoning regulations of 1986. Doster cares deeply about the red beech. For more than 70 years he cherished and cared for her. He couldn’t save the tree anymore. “Especially in today’s climate discussion, every means should have been used to preserve such a tree,” says Doster.
The felling is over after a few hours and today only the stump sticks out of the ground. “An estimated 30 cubic lumber was stolen from me by the city. I won’t just swallow it like that,” said Doster. He is examining legal steps. According to the police, there will be no compensation. On the contrary: “He will receive an invoice for the work when cutting back,” says police spokesman Michael Wirz. ⋌Sandro Portman
