The County of Simcoe says the failing health of the iconic 'Shoe Tree' of Springwater Township was a factor in cutting it down.
And thousands of pairs of shoes were also part of the equation.
"County staff had been monitoring the tree to ensure safety," said Debbie Korolnek, General Manager of Engineering, Planning and Environment for the County of Simcoe.
"A combination of the tree’s health combined with the extra weight from the number of shoes on the tree, as well as a formal request from Springwater Township, resulted in full removal being the most appropriate option," she said in a statement.
The County had a contractor remove the tree Tuesday morning and all materials were brought for landfilling, said Korolnek.
"According to our contractor who took down the tree there were an estimated 1.2 tonnes of shoes – this is an estimate only," she added.
"Measures to ensure road safety and compliance, including tree clearing, are very standard and daily operations for the County."
Several other trees were also cut down in the same area yesterday.
The legendary Shoe Tree had been growing on Crossland Rd. over a number of years but exactly how long is anyone's guess.
