Commercial Property

Shikma Historic Tree

Client: Ayalon Highways
Location: Holon (near Tel Aviv) Israel
Geography: International
Type: Commercial Property

Project Requirements

For hundreds of years, a large Sycamore Fig (Ficus sycomorus) stood as a marker on the road from Jerusalem to Jaffa. In modern times, the tree has been adopted as the emblem of the municipality of Holon and as the symbol of the famous IDF combat unit 'Golany.' So, when the construction of a new high-speed train threatened the tree, Environmental Design was asked to come to Israel and preserve a little 'Living History.'

Project Process

Special consideration was taken to deal with this large tree (7.5ft trunk diameter, 30ft canopy height, and 35ft canopy spread). Preparation for transplanting the tree started 4 months before the final tree move with a preliminary root investigative dig. During this process, it was discovered that at some point in the tree's long history, the primary root system had been buried by 4 feet of additional soil. This incredibly hardy tree responded by developing a two-tier root system: the original system and a new system growing in the new soil.

Project Solution

To address the two-tier root system and to minimize the eventual transport weight of this giant tree, the top 4 feet of soil was evacuated using water spray and the top tier of roots was covered by a light perlite-based material. The root system was encapsulated, steel pipes driven under the rootball, and the tree crane-lifted to a waiting transport. The next challenge was transporting the tree to its new home. The only path available required the tree to travel 3 miles on Tel Aviv's busiest highway system. The move was flawlessly executed in one night and planted in the new location.

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