On Laki Street in Tallinn, Scandium Kinnisvara replanted a 50-year-old oak tree that would have been felled due to construction work. The transplant was carried out by a unique patented machine from Germany, which was powerful enough for the task. The developer also calls on others to notice alternatives to felling and replacement planting.
Construction work on the new building on Laki 24/2 will soon begin. The nearly 13m high and 60cm trunk circumference oak was located in the construction area and would have been felled in order to later carry out a replacement planting on the property at his expense. Instead of felling, Scandium Kinnisvara invited from Germany a specially patented machine to replant the viable tree. The tree was raised with its roots, driven 15m away, and replanted there.
Kalle Aron, Scandium Kinnisvara Innovation Manager, and Partner: “Every tree that is in the way for road construction, new development, or a building does not have to automatically mean felling and replacement planting, as it has usually meant in Estonia so far. True, the service of ordering a special machine from Europe that would be able to lift a large viable tree from the ground is not the cheapest. In our case, it cost 8000 euros, including transport. However, if there are more trees to be saved, the amount will be divided among the others and may sometimes be equal to or less than the environmental fee paid to the city.”
The ground was technically prepared before the machine arrived, a suitable place was selected where the tree could grow for a long time, and it was ensured that other trees would not be damaged during planting. Special equipment first dug a large round hole, then dug a hole of the same shape around the tree and its roots and lifted the tree from one place to another. The tree was immediately supported by ropes and anchored to the ground so that the plant could take root properly in its new location next year. After finishing its job in Estonia, the machine moved to perform similar work in other Baltic countries that were on its way home.
“The driver of the planting machine said that he had traveled all over Europe with his patented machine. In our neighboring countries, especially in Scandinavia, great efforts are being made to preserve large trees. For example, in a large development district in Norway, the machine operator had picked up 600 trees, planted them in a nearby field for a construction period, and planted them back in the development area a year later. Awesome! I hope we are on our way there in Estonia as well!” Said Aron.