The felling of 12 August 2026, and what the town said about it

The cedar of the rue de la République, planted at the beginning of the 19th century, was part of the landscape and the heritage of Meudon. It had been closely monitored for more than 20 years.

Indeed, as early as 2008, surveys had concluded that the tree was in decline, affected by a root pathology:

“the crown of the tree is thinning at a worrying rate. A deterioration of the root system as well as a deterioration of the trunk to a depth of at least 28 cm in places. Rot has set in at the collar. The inner wood is crumbling into small brownish cubes”.

Despite the measures taken over time to preserve the tree and make some of its branches safe (pruning and the fitting of bracing cables) on the recommendations of the independent consultancy Phytoconseil, its health progressively deteriorated.

The latest assessment by that consultancy, in mid-July 2026, reports a further worsening of its condition owing to the intense heat and repeated droughts. It concludes that the tree is a danger to the public, given its proximity to a busy departmental road, and that an emergency felling is necessary.

Attached to this emblematic tree of the rue de la République as many residents are, the town nevertheless had to resign itself to scheduling its felling in order to protect people and property, at the risk of incurring liability in the event of an accident.

This decision comes after several years of monitoring, and at a point where the measures that kept the tree safe are no longer sufficient. Its felling is therefore not a decision taken lightly.