THE former Caledonia Nursery contains a tree treasure trove. Residential development which is threatening the site in St Peter Port has angered people living nearby.

It could also damage a site of botanical and historical significance.

States tree officer Andy McCutcheon warned that trees which took 100 years to grow could be destroyed in five minutes.

‘Caledonia is a tree reserve of special importance not only because of the rare and unusual species that it contains but because of its historical importance – there is living archaeology here,’ he said.

The site contains three different magnolia species that take 20 years to flower. It is believed the Magnolia grandiflora, known as Goliath, was raised in 1910.

‘I just think anyone who had driven past the magnolia trees in the past two weeks would have seen them in flower looking absolutely gorgeous,’ said Paul Torode, a partner in tree surgeons Special Branch.

‘The ambience there is breathtaking and to lose a green area in St Peter Port would be a real shame.’

The Magnolia grandiflora is referred to in Cassell’s Trees of Britain and Northern Europe, by John White, the Forestry Commission’s former dendrologist.

‘Trees which have been left undisturbed can reach a great age spanning several generations. There are trees growing on this island which were anted in the late 17th century and are still alive today,’ said Mr McCutcheon.

A sweet chestnut at Beau Sejour may have been planted as early as 1680.

‘We list old buildings but, sadly, as yet we don’t list old trees. Unfortunately, trees and development do not mix.’

He said that their root systems were extremely vulnerable to damage because they were not deep. Instead they spread out and did not penetrate more than a metre into the soil.

‘But trees that take decades or even hundreds of years to grow can be irreversibly damaged by a JCB in less than five minutes. Sometimes it takes several years to show, but almost invariably it does.’

Even increased foot traffic over the trees’ roots will shorten their life span, he added.

The trees at Caledonia are significant because of a link with world-renowned botanist Charles Smith.

Guernsey Post issued a set of stamps celebrating his work in 2000 and said he was ‘at the forefront of the botanical revolution in Guernsey’.

‘But of course his great contribution was made at Caledonia Nursery,’ said Mr McCutcheon.

‘There are records held by the States Archive Service which show accounts, catalogues and other records from Caledonia Nursery from 1853-1972 by Charles Smith & Son, who, I presume, owned the site.’

He pointed to the many benefits of trees in built up areas, including reduction in air, dust and noise pollution.

‘Trees provide shelter and screening, a habitat for wildlife, remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen and soften the impact of development,’ he said.

‘And as if that wasn’t enough, they provide us with a sense of place – I do not believe you will find many older residents of Guernsey who have not heard of Caledonia Nursery.’

Mr Torode said that it was important to keep green spaces in the island.

‘As a taxpayer, I think the States should have a policy to buy back these areas to maintain and use for education.’