Ancient Giant Tree on the Shore of the Great Lake

The Hungarian word “állatkert” (literally “animal garden”) is very expressive, as it not only refers to showcasing animals but also emphasizes that this takes place in a garden-like, landscaped environment. Indeed, in almost every zoo, the park itself is a crucial and prominent feature. This is especially true for us, as we are not merely a landscaped zoo but also a botanical garden. This means we boast a curated botanical collection on par with botanical gardens.

While our animal collection is so diverse that its species richness is outstanding even by international standards, the number of plant species, varieties, and cultivars we showcase exceeds that of the animals. Among our plants, trees are of particular importance, as is our entire dendrological collection, whose establishment began with the foundation of the zoo in the mid-1860s, largely following the vision of the renowned horticulturist Ármin Petz.

Given that the zoo has been in existence for nearly 160 years, it is natural that many impressive, old, and accordingly large trees can be found on the grounds. The largest and oldest trees are predominantly plane trees and various poplars, such as Canadian poplars. Yet, the most ancient of them all seems to be the massive plane tree located along the promenade between the Great Lake and the Japanese Garden.

Unfortunately, the exact age of this giant tree is unknown, as there are no written records about it. We also do not wish to harm it by counting its growth rings. Therefore, we estimate its age primarily based on its size and trunk circumference. By this measure, it not only appears to be the oldest tree in our zoo but may even predate the zoo itself, which opened in 1866. It could be part of the planting carried out during the zoo’s establishment under the guidance of Ármin Petz, or it might even be older, possibly a remnant of the nursery that operated in this area before he Zoo was established.

The Great Lake itself was created for the zoo’s opening in 1866, based on designs by Ferenc Reitter, although its shape was slightly different at the time. The promenade along the lakeshore, supported by a stone retaining wall facing the water, was added in the 1930s under the initiative of the then-director Herbert Nadler (hence it is sometimes called the Nadler Promenade). The neighboring Japanese Garden was established later, in the early 1960s, after World War II.

When we reflect on history and consider everything that has happened since 1866, we can imagine all that this ancient plane tree has endured. For example, wars, bombings (it’s not uncommon to find shrapnel fragments inside the trunks of old trees), and transformations of its surroundings. Despite all this, our old plane tree continues to defy time and remains in relatively good condition for its age.

We know this because two years ago, our external horticulturalist carried out a comprehensive survey, a tree survey, including an acoustic tomography scan of the old sycamore. The results were very reassuring, giving us every reason to believe that this lakeside plane tree will continue to thrive for many years to come.

The attached photo was taken last summer, as plane trees are deciduous and shed most of their leaves in autumn. However, by next summer, it will look as lush and magnificent as it does in the image.