News Release – December 16, 2004

Dec. 16, 2004 – Springfield, Va. – To move a 7,500 pound red spruce, it takes a giant crane, a double-rotor helicopter, a chain saw, thousands of feet of nylon parachute rope and some help from Bartlett Tree Experts. And that’s just what happened when the National Capitol Holiday Tree was moved from the woods of Laurel Fork, Virginia to the lawn of our Capitol in Washington.

A huge crew was on-site to assist in the preparation and moving of the spruce including Bartlett Tree Expert’s Rob Springer, Safety and Training Coordinator for the company’s Piedmont Division. Rob, an ISA certified arborist with 25 years experience, was charged with cutting the tree down – no easy task considering this towering spruce reached 82 feet in height.

After placing a “choker” in the upper portion of the tree and attaching it to the ball of a 40-ton crane, Rob cut the tree with a chain saw donated by Husqvarna. After the cut had been made and the area was clear, the crane held the tree while 17 feet was removed from the lower trunk. The spruce was then placed in a cradle and a prepared for flight. This was the first time in its 40-year history that the Capital Holiday Tree came from a Virginia National Forest and was cut by a professional arborist instead of a logger.

The Bartlett Tree Experts employee was excited about his participation in moving the tree. “It’s great to put my experience at Bartlett to work for a fun cause like this,” said Rob. “So many people worked hard to move this tree safely and it’s truly rewarding to see it lit on the Capitol lawn.”

About Bartlett Tree Experts

Bartlett Tree Experts was founded in 1907 by Francis A. Bartlett and is the world’s leading scientific tree and shrub care company. The organization’s current chairman, Robert A. Bartlett Jr., represents the third generation of Bartlett family management. Bartlett has offices in 26 states, Canada, Ireland and Great Britain. Services include pruning, integrated pest and disease management, soil analysis and management, cabling and bracing, tree lightning protection systems and tree/stump removal. Its corporate offices are located in Stamford, Connecticut.