17/01/2024
Something to be grateful for, our trees. They existed long before us, and I consider them to be the original stewards of this planet. As the chairperson for the West Reading Shade Tree Commission, and also the West Reading Environmental Advisory Council, my passion for the natural world has guided me to look at our Shade Tree inventory as a legacy instead of just an asset.
To put it simply, they filter our air-water-soil. To put it more seriously, they keep us (and just about every other organism on this planet) from suffocation, poisoning, starvation, etc. There are also dozens of studies showcasing the psychological benefits to us: mood, outlook, interactions with neighbors, reduction in crime and unsafe driving, feeling better physically = feeling better mentally/emotionally. Not to mention the financial benefits when it comes to increased property values, decrease in air conditioning & heating, reduction UV damage to roads and roofing, etc.
So when it comes to the managing the 1,400+ trees in our Borough, our work on the Shade Tree Commission is about preserving our canopy and educating our residents. After all, it’s tax dollars that fund our Shade Tree management.
Each meeting we have reoccurring topics: planting, trimming, removals, and watchlists. It’s all about creating a cycle for which we carefully choose and plant trees based on criteria discussed with experts in the field. You get to have 100+ year old trees in the neighborhood by being proactive. Every planting spot requires the right species, the right distancing, the right space, the right depth, the right care. They have actually found that underground root systems are a network, where microorganisms and nutrients and communications are sent/receieved.
In similar fashion, our success is tied to directly to communication: residents informing Public Works about dead limbs before they damage property, those workers having experience & training with regular trimming/maintenance of the trees, identifying disease/pest infestation to prevent spread, development of multi year plans for maintenance & care.
So, many of the members of our commission are taking courses to learn about our responsibilities when it comes to preserving our Shade Trees. For the next 5 weeks, we are learning how to be better stewards of this planet and learn from our trees. Thank you to Penn State Extension for this great series!
