After reading Gale Rogers’ letter to the editor, ‘Urban forest still being neglected,’ in The Napanee Beaver on July 27, I feel it necessary to set the record straight.
The “one tree planted diligently by L&A Court House staff” was in fact organized by the L&A Stewardship Council, and purchased from local arbourist Eric Weese. This tree, a native red oak, was donated by our council and planted to commemorate Canada’s 150th anniversary.
To address the second point, in 2006, members of the L&A Stewardship Council and the local Horticultural Society formed a group called the Urban Forest Renewal Program. Ours was an ‘adopt a tree’ program. For the next seven years, we planted approximately 350 trees, all native species, on municipal road allowances, in front of residences and other public spaces, utilizing public works staff for the digging and installation. These trees were six to eight feet tall at the time of planting.
We started with 25 trees in 2006 and, by 2012, we had successfully planted around 350 trees in L&A County, from Tamworth to Adophustown and Bath areas, as well as in the Town of Greater Napanee.
Funding came from several environmental sources, including TD Friends of the Environment, the Napanee District Community Foundation, Walmart’s Evergreen Fund as well as the L&A Horticultural Society and the L&A Stewardship Council.
Unfortunately, we had to disband our little group by 2013, mainly due to aging members and other commitments. Maybe it’s time now to get planting again.
Susan Withers,
L&A Stewardship Council