Update: 'It is sad to see it like this' – remains of 800-year-old wych elm to be removed from grounds of Beauly Priory
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The remains of Europe's oldest wych elm will be removed from the site after it fell down in Beauly Priory earlier today.
The tree, thought to be about 800 years old, has been damaged by Dutch Elm Disease in recent years.
A team from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has been called out to remove the remaining wood which will be given to the local community.
The area will be fenced off while damaged gravestones and a boundary fence are repaired.
Stephen Watt, district architect for HES, said the tree had been an intrinsic and important part of the site since the priory was built in 1230 but it had been affected by Dutch Elm Disease at the end of the 20th century.
It had subsequently undergone work including "limbing" to prolong its life for a few more years.
But Mr Watt said it had probably been unable to withstand the recent period of intense cold weather followed by a thaw.
"It is sad to see it," he said as he surveyed the damage.
"We have been doing our utmost to save it and retain it. It is such an old wonderful tree and must have witnessed many things in its life – it is 700 to 800 years old.
"But everything has its time."
He hopes its legacy will live on with the wood being donated to the local men's shed to be turned into items.
Mr Watt added: "We have also identified saplings on the site which are from this tree and our landscape architects are intent on nurturing and replanting them in due course.
"Its legacy will live on."
Digital 3-D image shows Europe's oldest elm in Beauly
As the last survivor of an avenue of elms, the tree had less than five per cent living material but remained an iconic sculptural element.
Two years ago, the tree was laser-scanned in a ground-breaking venture by the HES digital documentation team. It had previously laser-scanned buildings but it was the first time it has scanned a tree.
Locals and visitors went to the site this afternoon to view the fallen tree.
Sarah Smith, who lives near Beauly, walks past the tree regularly with her six-month-old son, Alick.
"It was such an incredibly old tree," she said.
"It is sad to see it like this especially when you think of all the things the tree has been present at over hundreds of years."
Bob Grantham, of Nairn, also viewed the fallen tree with his wife, Karen, and sister, Christine, while visiting the village.
"We are frequent visitors to Beauly," he said. "Whenever we come here, the tree is the first thing you see."
