Leura’s “whale” has been beached.
The distinctive hedge, which owner Bryan Hardy adorned each spring with an eye and set of teeth, had to be removed just before Christmas after succumbing to disease.
Mr Hardy said he regretted having to remove what had become a landmark in the village but had no choice. He had consulted widely with arborists and council before taking the drastic action.
“I can assure everyone that the decision was not taken lightly.”
Mr Hardy planted the hedge 46 years ago as a wind break.
Not knowing anything about gardening I really planted the wrong type of tree – I had no idea it would grow so huge.
“As it grew it had to be pruned and finally took on a strange shape. With the addition of an eye and teeth each spring it took on a personality that has pleased a couple of generations of locals and tourists.”
Mr Hardy said he wanted to thank everyone who had commiserated on the loss of the whale.
“We know it has been much loved and brought a sense of joy to a lot of garden lovers and tourists but to have so many contact us with cards and even flowers thanking us for looking after it for so many years has been very emotional.
“Children have been very upset at its passing and I have told them it was fed up with being land-locked has been set free to go back to the sea.”
When the hedge came out, Mr Hardy had to restore the fence – “that I haven’t seen for 20 years” – and was soon hard at work planting a row of 15 Leylandii cypress as a replacement.
The Leylandiis are very quick growing and have often sparked neighbourhood disputes about overshadowing. But Mr Hardy’s hedge is on the corner of Craigend Street and Hartley Esplanade, so no neighbours will be affected.
Besides, Mr Hardy intends to keep it pruned to a more manageable 2.5 metres.
“I did a drive around the area and found a couple of really well cared for hedges that are maintained at a reasonable height and being fast growing I hopefully will see it at least gain some semblance of a hedge before I follow the whale out to sea.”
