| Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica atropunicea) at Point Pleasant Park |
Old Friends, New Arrivals in the Point Pleasant Park Forest HRM Urban Forestry crews, will be planting new copper beech trees along selected roadways in Point Pleasant Park this May. Introduced from Europe in the early 1800s, the copper beech (Fagus sylvatica atropunicea) was an important ornamental tree in early North American residential landscapes. Traditionally the copper beech was used as a singular ornamental specimen tree in picturesque and romantic landscape design of the 19th century. In Point Pleasant Park we can trace the planting of some of these trees back to the 1930s under the direction of then superintendent Thomas Fripps. The trees have been planted at some roadway intersections, at the Lodge, in locations on Point Pleasant Drive, and notably in the form of an allée on Heather Road. The Point Pleasant Park Comprehensive Plan designates the copper beeches, used as landscape architectural elements, as culturally significant features to be maintained. The replanting of the trees is in keeping with the overall intent of the comprehensive plan. Are you interested in reading more about the copper beech? Reading Resources - Point Pleasant Park: An Illustrated History. Kitz, J. & Castle, G. (1999). Pleasant Point Publishing. Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Web Resources |