Deep within the forest near the village of Woodford in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales lies ‘The Woodford Tree’, a majestic specimen of Eucalyptus deanei (Mountain Blue Gum). It has been recognised as one of the tallest examples of its species and was once measured at around 78 metres in 1978. More recent assessments have its height recorded at approximately 71 metres but, with a substantial girth, this is an Aussie bush giant well worth noticing. And, after all, once you’re there, it is quite hard to miss!
So, on a wet late-winter day in August, our team of passionate arborists at Arbor Pride decided to take up the challenge of climbing The Woodford Tree while most sane Sydney-siders were taking shelter from the torrential rain in their homes. But, for a climber, the idea of ascending such a tree is awe-inspiring. Its towering trunk and smooth bark are characteristic of Mountain Blue Gums which typically grow tall and straight. The tree stands isolated on the edge of thick bushland making it visually dramatic and offering any passers-by the opportunity to witness the immense scale of it in its natural setting.
And whilst the nature-lovers and bushwalkers can appreciate its grandeur from the ground, the team at Arbor Pride decided to take on the challenge of climbing it. Careful consideration and preparation was needed as climbing The Woodford Tree would carry significant risks and being a rare and outstanding specimen it deserved our respect and protection. Great care was needed as reckless climbing can damage bark, disturb the habitat of birds and other bush life that resided in and around this unique specimen.
An early pre-dawn start was needed and the team headed off on the near-100km trip to find and climb the tallest Mountain Blue Gum in New South Wales. As mentioned, the weather wasn’t the best, but something about it added an almost ethereal quality around the tree as the team geared up and prepared to climb. The good old slingshot was used to secure the climbing ropes and the long haul up the tree began. Moving above the canopy of the lower surrounding bushland was truly breathtaking and the scale of the tree seemed even greater near the top. The sight of the mist loitering just above the expansive Blue Mountains bush valleys, entwined in the treetops as far as the eye could see, was a truly magical experience.
The trunk of the Woodford Tree glistened in the steady rain as the team made their descent back to ground level. What an experience it would have been to be up so high. The Arbor Pride team climbed the great tree with all the skill and expertise you would expect from such an experienced team of climbers. They certainly rose to the challenge and attained some new and rather significant heights not often found in the average suburban backyard.
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