The large fir tree of around 27 meters stands in the center of Sjøholt on Sunnmøre. The tree from the end of the 19th century is the village’s pride and the villagers themselves consider the spruce to be one of the tallest uprooted in a town centre. On the night of Thursday, something happened to the tree in the strong wind. – We received several reports of concern that the tree had taken on a marked slope, says Martin Hessen, head of roads and greenery in Ålesund municipality. This is what the tree looks like now. Several people called in to the municipality and reported that it has become strange recently. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Dramatic to get the tree over the house The municipality blocked off the area and got tree expert Daniel Armitage to assess the spruce. He does not see any defect in the tree, but an incipient failure need not be visible until the problem has become large. The expert therefore believes that the tree should be considered removed if people feel unsafe. – It can be dramatic for the person who gets the tree over their roof or that there are people under the tree if it falls, says Hessen. Although there is no immediate danger of the tree falling, the municipality recommends that it should be felled. It was Bygdebladet that first wrote about the case. Sylvi Listhaug comes from Sjøholt and has fond memories of Christmas tree lighting growing up. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news Grana is an institution Sylvi Listhaug has many fond memories of Christmas tree lighting growing up. She says that the Christmas tree is an institution in the village and part of the Christmas atmosphere. – It is simply sad that the wind and weather finally seem to have taken it, says Listhaug. Other villagers also think it’s stupid. Janet Roelofs runs a cafe in the center of Sjøholt and is Grana’s closest neighbour. She says there are many feelings associated with the iconic fir tree. The tree is especially beautiful when the Christmas lights are lit. – Grana looks fantastic no matter which direction you come from. And at the very top there is a star and it gives such a wonderful Christmas feeling, says Roelofs. She would like the felling of the tree to wait until after Christmas, so that the villagers can say goodbye to the spruce. – But the tree is moving and we can’t risk someone getting hurt or worse if it falls over, says Janet Roelofs. Janet Roelofs runs a cafe at Sjøholt and believes it is safest to cut down spruce. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Hard work and fundraising Merchant Theodor Bang Flindt planted the fir tree in 1895 in memory of his three children who died at a young age. Local newspaper editor Reidar Opsal says that even if the villagers seem to mind if the spruce is sad, people accept that the tree will be felled. – Countless hours of work and money have been spent on the tree to keep it looking good. She is our pride, says Opsal. Reidar Opsal is an editor at Bygdebladet. He says that the spruce is the village’s pride. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Three years ago there was a large-scale fundraising for new Christmas tree lights. But the Christmas tree lighting did not go according to plan. The hired crane was actually far too short for the tree and thus the band that was supposed to set the mood with Christmas music had to turn around. At the end of December, they hired a taller crane from roadworks, and the lights could be switched on. I think it is too hasty. Coop Nordvest owns the land where the tree stands. They must now plan how the felling of the trees will take place. – We don’t have much other choice but to take down the tree, as it is a danger to life and health, says Lars Ove Valaas-Breivik, who is director of property at Coop Nordvest. They are in dialogue with the municipal sub-committee about saving the Christmas lights and possibly part of the tree trunk. Torbjørn Frøland works on the lake and he says it means a lot to come home and see the lit Christmas tree. Photo: Hans Olav Landsverk / news Torbjørn Frøland lives in Sjøholt and he thinks the decision to cut down the tree is premature. – I think we could look at it and maybe take some measures to preserve it, says Frøland.
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The Christmas tree at Sjøholt will be felled – Sylvi Listhaug thinks it’s sad – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
