One of Hamilton's largest trees has been chopped down after authorities discovered it posed a risk to passing pedestrians and motorists. And a second landmark tree faces the axe later this month after it was discovered that it too could fall at any moment.

The 65-foot Indian Laurel tree opposite Butterfield Bank on Front Street was chopped down by The Corporation of Hamilton at the weekend after it was discovered to have been damaged by Hurricane Fabian.

The Corporation's Superintendent of Parks, Steven DeSilva, said the tree, which is thought to have been up to 100 years old and had a crown diameter of about 85 feet, could have fallen on to pedestrians and vehicles.

Mr. DeSilva carried out health checks on several trees in the city last month. He became concerned about the two trees, one located directly next to the Flag Pole and Reviewing Stand and the second located directly next to the Horse and Carriage Canopy.

“Both these trees have exhibited signs of stress over the past several weeks, which provided the impetus for close scrutiny by both the two Parks Staff assigned to Front Street-Waterfront maintenance, and myself,” Mr. DeSilva said.

He said that by May 26, he could see the following symptoms of defect and predictable tree failure, “clear evidence of loss of vitality - absence of foliation, missing cambium, loose bark, dead branches and delayed wound healing”.

He also saw “symptoms of mechanical defect - obvious signs of decay, cracks and fibre buckling”.

Branches were falling off - evidence that the tree was becoming more brittle, Mr. DeSilva said.

“There is evidence of preferential decomposition of cellulose, but retention of lignin. (In layman's terms this means that stiffness has been preserved but breaking strength falls rapidly). There are reported incidences of branch failure on two occasions over the past several weeks,” he said.

Mr. DeSilva said that Indian Laurel trees are not the sturdiest of trees and these two shade trees had been around for a long time. The pre-existing damage from Hurricane Fabian combined with the location of the trees - the proximity to areas open to traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian meant the trees were dangerous, he said.

The stump of the tree near the Flag Pole and Reviewing Stand will be removed “within the next 48 hours, with the second removal exercise to be undertaken on Sunday June 13”, he said. The stump could not be removed on Sunday because the corporation's Parks Department did not have big enough chainsaws.

Mr. DeSilva asked for members of the public to assist the corporation in finding a replacement shade tree for the area, whether the tree be donated or for sale.

Mr. DeSilva said he had received several calls from angry members of the public wanting to know why the monumental tree had been felled.

“Indian Laurels do not last forever,” he said.