CONTINUATION OF ACTIVITIES IN LANDSCAPING THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE PROTECTED OLD OAK TREE AT SV. PETAR ON THE ISLAND OF CRES

A part of the landscaping activities planned for the surroundings of the old oak tree – a protected natural monument – at Sv. Petar on Cres Island were carried out from 17 – 21 December. The plot on which the oak is located and the old dry stone walls marking boundaries lines
have been cleared of thorny scrub and excess vegetation. At that time, the remains of three limekilns were uncovered and also cleared of vegetation. According to the project of Mr. Luka Jelušić, bachelor of landscape architecture, a bench for visitors has been made from the tree’s large branch,
which broke off during the last strong storm. The branch has been cleaned of its bark and saturated with linen seed oil to prolong its lifetime.

Opposite the oak is another bench that provides a wonderful view of the tree. This bench (200 x 44 x 33 cm in dimension) is an artistic, wooden sculpture made of oak. The author and sculptor is again Mr. Luka Jelušić, who designed the landscaping project for the area surrounding
the old oak tree. This second bench with its imaginative shape is also very attractive and, through a symbolic dimension, it represents the eternal struggle of a tree and the tenacious life structure of its wood against the natural forces that threaten to break it. A large pebble of white limestone
has been “implanted” in a fissure in the bench to symbolise these threatening forces.

In our opinion, the sculptured benches blend nicely into the area surrounding the protected natural monument, and they improve and complement the area. Now we need to wait and see what visitors
will say about these benches. Our next step will be to set up an information board giving general information about the old oak tree and telling its “story”. Also, we wish to fix up the old limekilns located near the oak tree and tell about the role the once played. The members of the
Municipal Office Branch of Sv. Petar approve of and actively participate in this landscaping project.