MTO’s Champion trees - nature’s survivors

Species: Eucalyptus diversicolor
Common name: Karri gum
Age: 99 years old

Planted almost a century ago, the Brakenhill Gum Trees are a group of eucalypts that have survived everything nature has to throw at them, including the 2017 fires that devastated the area around Knysna. It is not just fires, these trees have survived extreme storms and wind damage and are still growing. With a number of specimens within the group over 70 metres tall, it is no wonder they were awarded Champion Tree status in 2013 and are considered an Eastern Cape landmark. If you are interested in how these Champion Trees were measured in order to obtain their status, just click here, for a great five-minute read from the team entrusted to measure them.