Hyde Park, one of the most cherished green spaces in Perth, is about to lose about 300 trees. This action is the beginning of a critical step to combat the negative effects of the polyphagous shot-hole borer. This invasive pest that first showed up in 2021 has wreaked havoc across the entire District metro area. In its wake, it has already cut down over 4,000 trees. The City of Vincent is proud to be taking swift, proactive action to get this crisis under control. They are working closely with the State’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and calling on volunteer arborists through ArbWest.
The polyphagous shot-hole borer has particularly ravaged the vegetation on the park’s two lake islands, threatening the health of the beloved Moreton Bay figs and London Plane trees that define Hyde Park. This national historic landmark was conceived as an arts and crafts style classical English garden in 1890. Losing these abundant trees will not only harm their beauty and cultural legacy, but will damage the local ecosystem. The City of Vincent has developed a comprehensive three-year replanting plan involving 4,000 trees and shrubs to restore the area.
Efforts Underway to Preserve Iconic Trees
Arborists are on the front lines of the fight against this infesting scourge. They’ve used creative methods to save hundreds of Hyde Park’s mature fig trees. Rather than chop down trees, they removed limbs that had been infected. Their strategic approach has allowed them to save over 90% of the park’s full tree canopy.
“We have had to remove three trees, but the other trees which have been infested, we’ve been able to simply remove infested limbs rather than going straight to removing the entire tree,” – Alison Xamon.
Vincent Lanoiselet, a specialist who worked to restore the damaged works, said he was cautiously hopeful that appropriate treatments might be found. He added, “The Holy Grail is really to get a good treatment that’s effective.” But he admitted that once a tree has a strong infestation of the borer, it needs to be cut down completely.
“If the tree is covered with the borer, then, unfortunately, we need to take down the whole tree,” – Dr. Lanoiselet.
This new work should help inform preservation efforts, putting Hyde Park’s most important trees first in line for protection. Ms. Xamon stressed the need to safeguard the huge fig trees that were at risk. These veteran trees make up the majority of the park’s canopy cover.
“The priority out at Hyde Park is to do everything possible to try to preserve the massive fig trees, which are over 100 years old,” – Alison Xamon.
Community and Environmental Impact
The seemingly haphazard loss of trees throughout Hyde Park has rattled advocates and local residents matched by their environmental conscience. Ms. Xamon has reiterated calls for additional government funding to support the rehabilitation efforts and cover costs associated with managing this national issue.
“[The cost] is falling to Vincent ratepayers, even though this is a national issue and even though the decisions to remove trees are being made at the state government level,” – Alison Xamon.
That’s why the time to act is now. We want to bring the emerald ash borer crisis under control without harming the wildlife that thrives in Hyde Park’s ecosystem. Through this process, we have tried to be very deliberate about when tree removals occur. This allows us to avoid disrupting Maryland’s local birds and tortoises’ breeding seasons.
“The timing of the removal of the trees is designed to minimize any disruption to the breeding seasons of both the birds and the tortoises that use the islands to breed,” – Alison Xamon.
The community’s impassioned response shows why Hyde Park is so special. Today, it is one of the most treasured public spaces for all local residents and all West Australians. Future priorities Ms. Xamon reiterated that future work should be directed at resilience and sustainability.
“We are prioritizing plants which are resilient to shot-hole borer, resilient to climate change, and are appropriate to create habitat,” – Alison Xamon.
Looking Ahead
As restoration efforts progress, the eventual expense involved in restoring Hyde Park could amount into the millions. The city remains profoundly committed to returning this critical corridor to its intended purpose. Simultaneously, they’ve taken action to mitigate the constant danger posed by the polyphagous shot-hole borer.
Much work and many challenges still lie ahead, but hope is in the air. With your help, Hyde Park can come through this crisis rejuvenated and strong for generations to come.
