Farewell to Bodley's oldest resident
King's beloved beech tree was removed in January 2025
The beech tree as seen from the west bank of the River Cam, Queens' College. Photo by Martin Bond
The beech tree as seen from the west bank of the River Cam, Queens' College. Photo by Martin Bond
Work begins with specialist equipment from Wallace Tree Removal. Image by Martin Bond
Work begins with specialist equipment from Wallace Tree Removal. Image by Martin Bond
Tree removal project a success
The tree was estimated to be around 180 years old and planted following the completion of the Henry Wilkins-designed bridge in 1818. Beech trees rarely live beyond 100 years in East Anglia due to climatic conditions but proximity to the river is the main factor in its survival.
The tree surpassed the lifespan of most beeches, but two types of fungus had set in which meant the tree was no longer safe to remain standing. Following approval by Cambridge City Council, work was carried out by Urban Forestry and Wallace Tree Removal between 6 and 10 January 2025 to remove it safely down to the stump. This necessitated closing the College’s back gate on Queen's Road, its bridge and the River Cam between the border of King’s and Queens’ Colleges and the back lawn of King’s. The closure was essential for the arborists to complete the work without risk to river users and pedestrians.
"The project involved nine College departments, which gives you a sense of how big an undertaking this was," commented Jon Leeding, the College's Capital Projects Manager. "Before the tree surgeons could begin we had to lay a trackway across the back lawn from Clare Gate, undertake a structural monitoring check on the bridge and work closely with the Cam Conservators to arrange and implement a river closure. The highly specialist tree surgery team and equipment were used to take the tree down in three days, including removing over 50 tonnes of timber from the back lawn. We were incredibly fortunate to have cold, crisp and, crucially light winds, whilst we safely took the tree down. The final piece of the puzzle was to reverse all the setup work."
Useable wood from the tree was taken off site to be seasoned and assessed for future use.
“We have been incredibly fortunate to keep the beech tree as long as we have. Its safe removal was a complex operation that involved many stakeholders and we worked closely with Cam Conservators and others affected.
How do you remove a 70 tonne tree?
A 'Magni' machine (seen above) was needed to remove large parts of the tree safely. It attaches onto a telescopic handler and has 360 degree rotation, to saw and secure the tree from any angle.
The machinery showed that 70 tonnes of tree was taken down.
A cross section of the trunk shows evidence of the fungi.
Photograph by Martin Bond
Photograph by Martin Bond
Project team watching the tree removal. Photograph by Martin Bond
Project team watching the tree removal. Photograph by Martin Bond
Arborist surveys the tree. Image by Martin Bond.
Arborist surveys the tree. Image by Martin Bond.
The tree part way through removal. Photograph by Martin Bond.
The tree part way through removal. Photograph by Martin Bond.
A member of the tree removal team watches the removal. Photograph by Martin Bond
A member of the tree removal team watches the removal. Photograph by Martin Bond
The telehandler operator at work. Photograph by Martin Bond
The telehandler operator at work. Photograph by Martin Bond
King's Head Gardener shared his recollections before the work began
“As a College, and indeed, personally, as Head Gardener, the loss of such an iconic tree is a great sadness.
We estimate that the veteran beech by the bridge is somewhere in the region of 180 years old, a very great age for a Cambridge tree of this species. It was planted a few years after the bridge was completed in 1818.
It spent its formative years being ‘bullied’ by a row of mature elm trees growing alongside it, hence its asymmetrical crown formation, the majority of which grew and developed to the west, over the river, escaping the shade of the elms.
In the mid 1920s the elm trees were felled to make way for the Bodley’s Court extension, completed in 1928. With the competition removed, our beech had the opportunity to extend its crown to the east, resulting in the canopy we see today, being rather unbalanced, ungainly, but still a rather majestic specimen.
Because of climatic conditions, beech trees can be short lived in Cambridgeshire. Dendrologist Alan Mitchell contended that you were doing well if a beech tree made it over 100 years in East Anglia.
The reason our beech tree has lasted so long is largely due to its proximity to the river. Back in the 1980s Professor Lynne Body demonstrated that a plentiful source of water reduced the stress on mature beeches and added greatly to their longevity.
We have done all we could to keep the tree alive and safe since a damaging butt rot decay fungus was identified in 2016 during a routine survey. Kretzschmaria deusta is a very serious decay fungi for beech trees, and usually spells the end for the unfortunate host. We called in Dr Frank Rinn, a renowned tree decay specialist, and working with him we have managed to retain the tree until now.
However, after a major limb failure, despite regular health checks, and after a series of prolonged droughts, the tree is now failing. The leaf canopy has thinned dangerously, and significant deadwood can be seen in the crown. Another serious decay fungi, Ganoderma adspersum, has become established at the butt of the tree and the risk of falling limbs as the tree retrenches has become a threat to visitors to the College, to the bridge, and river users that we cannot ignore. All good things, sadly, must come to an end.”
Steve Coghill, Head Gardener, December 2024
View of King's College bridge and the beech tree, 1930
View of King's College bridge and the beech tree, 1930
A view of Bodley's court and the beech tree set amongst other trees, 1930s
A view of Bodley's court and the beech tree set amongst other trees, 1930s
A view of the bridge, beech tree and the Chapel. All archival images courtesy of King's College Archives.
A view of the bridge, beech tree and the Chapel. All archival images courtesy of King's College Archives.
On the felling of the Bodley's beech
by Joseph Nutman, Visitor Guide at King's
As summer waned and Michaelmas term began,
a blaze of green fades to embers one last time;
against autumn winds the canopy holds long enough
to shelter cyclamen matriculating in kingly purple.
Winter storms rage across The Backs 'til all leaves loosed
drift away like memories on The Cam,
leaving bare boughs outstretched like a hand
holding nothing now but farewell.
Snowdrops arrive among the roots – heads hung –
as if to mourn no more susurrations from the beech,
chins tucked like thoughtful scholars weighed by grief
at the passing of a beloved fellow.
But as one watch ends upon the bridge, when spring returns
Bodley's will not go unwatched forever;
new shoots stretch out limbs to take the baton,
carry the spirit – another meritorious work just beginning.
Memories of the beech tree from alumni and friends
I skipped a tutorial one day and sat under it with a graduate student in philosophy with a bottle of something and we read Plato's Phaedo, concerning the immortality of the soul...It was very sunny and the water was still. I thought I had understood something very profound about life but I don't remember what it was or a word of the Phaedo. But the tree and the sun in the tree and the water - I remember those. I'll always remember them.
Alan Hakim (KC 1956) writes:
"I was very sad to read of the death of our beech tree. It was a very prominent part of my life in 1955/6 when I lived in X2, though I have to admit I had forgotten it was a beech.
I took a series of views from the staircase (black & white in those days, of course) from January to June, and have dug them out of the attic.
Bodley's beech, winter 1956, by Alan Hakim
Bodley's beech, winter 1956, by Alan Hakim
Bodley's beech, spring 1956, by Alan Hakim
Bodley's beech, spring 1956, by Alan Hakim
Bodley's beech, summer 1956, by Alan Hakim
Bodley's beech, summer 1956, by Alan Hakim
I forget when it snowed in 1956, so it may be Feb rather than Jan.
Beech tree in winter, 1956, by Alan Hakim
Beech tree in winter, 1956, by Alan Hakim
The last photo was taken during the Choir's May Week madrigals on the river. It didn't rain that year!
Crowds gather along the river during May Week, June 1956, by Alan Hakim
Crowds gather along the river during May Week, June 1956, by Alan Hakim
Obviously the tree did well in the next 60+ years, but its time had come. When you plant a new one, it will take several college generations before it becomes a landmark again."
Bodley's court with the stump in the foreground, 30 January 2025. Photo by Martin Bond
Bodley's court with the stump in the foreground, 30 January 2025. Photo by Martin Bond
If you have photos or memories of the beech tree from your time at King's, please share them with us at communications@kings.cam.ac.uk
Photo by Paddy Robinson (KC 1962)
Photo by Paddy Robinson (KC 1962)
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