Auburn University To Plant New Trees At Toomer’s Corner

Apr 20, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Thousands of Auburn fans roll the Toomer
Apr 20, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Thousands of Auburn fans roll the Toomer

Auburn announced plans to replace the iconic oak trees at Toomer’s Corner as they get closer to restoring one of their proudest traditions of rolling the trees 

The Auburn University Board of Trustees approved a plan to renovate Samford Park and will plant 30 oak trees that spawned from acorns taken from the famed oaks at Toomer’s Corner 12 years ago to restore that will be planted along the walkway from Samford Hall to Toomer’s Corner.

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Auburn will replace the iconic oak trees on Feb 16, 2015 and 30 trees that are descendants of the iconic oaks in 2016.

“Our goal all along was to restore the corner with large trees at the earliest opportunity,” said Dan King, assistant vice president for Facilities Management. “Last summer we completed the hardscape to improve aesthetics and the pedestrian experience. The only thing missing was the trees. We think this plan honors the tradition of the historic original oaks.”

In 2010, Alabama fan Harvey Updyke poisoned the 130-year old trees and they eventually had to be taken down after efforts to preserve them proved to be unsuccessful. Auburn had one last rolling of the trees at Toomer’s Corner at the spring game last year, but the fans will have to wait at least one more year after the trees are planted before resuming their traditional roll to ensure the trees establish roots and adapt to their new environment.

“By planting mature oaks, we hope to be able to resume the rolling tradition much sooner than we could if we planted younger trees.”

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