Dear Editor:
RE: More trees please, Oct. 17.
I read with interest Cliff Acton’s letter. I couldn’t agree more – we do need more trees. That said, we also need to protect the healthy trees that we have now – trees that are established and big enough to provide important environmental services (slow storm water, provide shade, habitat) and, of course beauty.
We have an Urban Forest Policy that provides guidelines on good tree care during construction but it is abundantly clear that it has no teeth. There are many examples of publicly owned trees that are subjected to the worst possible practices with complete disregard to soil and roots – heavy equipment parked and/or construction materials piled up on the base of tree – all of which compacts the soil and will kill the roots.
I give you one example … On Church Street in Elora, builders installed snow fencing to protect the root zone as per the policy, but it was rolled up and tucked out of the way. On this same tree, branches were carelessly cut. This tree will not survive; the question is how soon will it die, and it will be the taxpayer who will be on the hook to pay for its removal.
These are trees that are owned by all of us and are an important community asset. Clearly we need a public tree bylaw to protect our trees – it is long overdue. Neighbourwoods will be pushing for this.
Toni Ellis,
Neighbourwoods coordinator