Hong Kong’s stonewall trees : conservation of a unique urban cultural landscape

Abstract

Hong Kong is a densely developed concrete jungle. Living organisms are struggling to adopt the environment in order to survive. Urban stonewall tree (SWT) is one of them which the seed of banyan tree accidently grows within the gaps of inclined stonewall and the roots penetrate on the surface and back soil of stonewall forming a uniquely urban landscape. They are usually found in Hong Kong Island due to the historical development on the hilly landscape. Although some of them are growing together with the local residents over decades and forming an inseparable Characters Defining Elements in a cultural landscape, they are not qualified as heritage for conservation. The dissertation therefore investigates this issue in different aspects including historical, horticultural, structural engineering conditions favourable for the urban SWTs development in Hong Kong. The current old and valuable tree and historical buildings grading system are reviewed to find out the reasons for missing the consideration of social value of stonewall trees in the assessment criteria. The dissertation focuses on the cultural landscape study of two case studies at King George V Memorial Park and Forbes Street. Subjective social value embedded by the urban stonewall trees are explored through the on-site interview with questions set according to the ICOMOS Practice Note. The survey outcome, together with the objective tree survey, helps to set the criteria for the proposed heritage stonewall trees. A holistic assessment mechanism and category are derived aiming to quantify some stonewall trees as heritage tree for proper conservation. Relevant assessment and maintenance government departments are proposed in order to facilitate the implementation of the new system. The ultimate goal is to protect the valuable stonewall tree in a sustainable way.