In 1781, a live oak stood beside one of Revolutionary War’s final major battles; 245 years later...

Specialist arborists have begun careful restoration work in South Carolina to save a 300-year-old southern live oak that stood near one of the final major battles of the American Revolutionary War. The huge tree stands at the historic Eutaw Springs battlefield in Orangeburg County. It survived musket fire, artillery attacks and centuries of harsh weather. But support systems added decades ago to hold its split trunk together have now become a danger. Heavy iron chains and steel cables wrapped around the branches have grown into the bark, putting pressure on the tree and blocking the movement of water and nutrients through its living tissue. Crews from SavATree, a specialist tree care company, are carrying out a multi-stage restoration project. The work includes removing the metal, improving the soil around the tree and adding modern, flexible support systems to help extend its life.Old metal supports are now harming the treeThe oak's current problems began after a powerful lightning strike more than 50 years ago damaged its canopy and split its large trunk. To stop the heavy tree from collapsing, landowners installed thick steel cables and iron chains around its main branches. The ...