Avenue de Muret in Toulouse, the bicentenary oak has lost its branches
Of the bicentenary holm oak which towered some 25 meters high over the avenue de Muret, there is now only a trunk left, and local residents will not see its magnificent foliage turn green next spring. Located on the site of the INSPE (National Higher Institute of Teaching and Education), the tree has undergone severe pruning for security reasons. After an initial assessment of the mechanical and sanitary condition of the 110 trees in the park in January 2021, Nathalie Lagarde, administrative and financial manager of the site, requested a new examination of the oak at the start of the year. Asphyxiated by the tar and weakened by the tramway works, it is in great pain and cannot withstand the drought. “It was cracked and, to rule out any risk, I had to bring in the pruners. Fortunately, we were able to keep the trunk, which poses no danger”, explains Nathalie Lagarde. Dead wood is an essential element for maintaining biodiversity and the totem tree will be able to accommodate fauna and flora: insects, birds, mosses, lichens, mushrooms. “We avoid tarring as much as possible and we had removed the crust around the oak, but that was not enough. We also practice differentiated management according to the species and leave fallow areas called free evolution zones”, underlines Raphaël Chalmeau teacher -researcher at INSPE. For Jean-Yves Léna, also a teacher-researcher and responsible for sustainable development, “natural living things are often ignored in urban areas. Here we allow future teachers to be in daily contact with nature, this is part of the program”, he adds. In the park there are 51 genera/species including a dozen remarkable specimens by their age and size, as well as 2 rare species: phillyrea latifolia and ginkgo biloba. Sustainable development, which includes welcoming and protecting biodiversity, was chosen by INSPE as the theme for the 2022-2023 promotion.