Longstanding Grandma Elm tree cut down in Assiniboine Park

CTV Winnipeg: Grandma Elm cut down at Assiniboine Michelle Gerwing on the tree which stood for decades being cut down due to Dutch elm disease.

Her branches provided shade for Winnipeggers for 200 years. Now, the tree known as Grandma Elm in Assiniboine Park is no more.

The iconic tree located at the south-end of the foot bridge had to be cut down Tuesday morning because it was infected with Dutch elm disease.

As the vast tree fell, many people shared memories of first meetings, picnics and even an old love story.

Michael Green said the land where the tree stood used to be a part of his grandmother’s farm.

There, she used to hitch her horse, and there she met a man who later became her husband.

But this isn’t the end for Grandma Elm. The Assiniboine Park Conservancy said it plans to mill the leftover wood into a bench and plant two new trees in its place.