The annual hanami celebration in Helsinki's Roihuvuori neighbourhood may be less spectacular than usual in the near future, after many of the trees were over-pruned by a municipal contractor.
Some larger branches were pruned as part of a routine maintenance visit at the start of the year. Too many smaller, flowering branches have also been removed, according to a Helsinki city press release.
The so-called cherry tree park contains some 150 cherry blossom trees that were gifted by the city's Japanese community to establish a focal point for the Finnish capital's hanami celebrations each spring.
The celebration has taken place every year since 2006, with visitors flocking to eastern Helsinki to enjoy the fleeting beauty of flowering cherry blossoms.
This year, however, the display will be less impressive than usual. Nearly 100 of the trees were over-pruned and will have less-impressive blossoms than last year.
It could take up to four years for the affected branches to return to full fruition. The city said it was trying to find out how the contractor, YIT Road Oy, came to make such a serious error.
"This is really sad news, and we are thoroughly investigating how this has been allowed to happen," said Kari Pudas, the city's technical director.
He added that the city was investigating if additional planting of cherry trees might help make up for some of the damage.
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