A Walk to Mark the Oldest Trees

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: You don't ask how old the oldest trees of Thiruvananthapuram are. Not because it is inappropriate to do so, but because the layman method of counting growth rings do not apply to trees in tropical countries, says Anitha Sharma, coordinator of Tree Walk, a group of environmentalists.

They had just returned from a walk called 'Senior Tree Citzens' Walk', to look at the oldest trees in the heart of the city.“ Analysis of tree rings,is easier in regions which have well-marked seasons. In such places, the growth is arrested during winter, and resumes during spring. In such places, many trees have one growth ring every year,” Anitha added.

To determine the age, they relied on methods of qualitative assessment, like the age of people who had the earliest memories of the trees. The group started their walk at the East Fort bus stand.

Nearby, the Government Central High School, Attakkulangara, has two mammoth rain trees, the girths and crowns of which suggest that these have been around before Independence. These are at least 75 years old. “ A former student of the school, S Veeramoni Iyer, had said that the saplings had attained a certain height, when he passed Class X in 1948,” Anitha said.

Perhaps these would have been around when the Father of the Nation had famously referred to Thiruvananthapuram as a city of evergreen trees. The giants have been marked to be brought down for a bus bay-cum-shopping complex project by Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority. A government order had handed over 2 acres of the school land to TRIDA.

The decision, challenged in the court, received a favourable verdict in the High Court, but TRIDA has been asked to ensure that the school gets at least 3 acres.

All the trees that the group visited on Sunday were certainly aged above 50 years. One of the rarest trees the group visited were the Arjun trees ('Neermaruthu'/ 'Terminalia Arjuna') near Kuthiramalika. “ These are normally found in forest areas,” said Anitha. 

Did you know that these have a connection with Tussar silk? The conical leaves of the tree is a favourite food of Antheraea paphia moth, which produces Tussar.

The group also visited the guest tree and banyan near the RT office. “ We are planning to document the oldest trees in town. We will be contacting like-minded people for this. Moreover, we will be requesting the Government to entrust us with care taking and beautification of the Sri Chithira Thirunal Park, which need special attention,” said Anitha. The walk concluded with poet V T Jayadevan, who won Kadamanitta and N V Krishna Warrier awards, reciting his piece on Nature.