Think your street’s been losing trees? This is Wiltshire Road looking east, on the Nonantum side of the Newton Corner zip code. I happened to be there this morning because that tree in the middle there, a 23” Norway maple, is one of the trees added since last fall to the removal list. (The backlog is vastly diminished now that the tree crew is up and running, but new trees get added to the list, at a rate on the order of 500/year.)
Since I’ve been tweeting a tree a day from the removal list, I seen a lot of sad looking trees, quite a few bare stretches, and not infrequently, three or more removals on a block or street, but I think this is the most barren stretch I’ve seen, and if you mentally erase that tree in the middle, it’ll be even worse. There are trees up the hill behind me to the west, most of which have broken limbs in need of pruning. These are small front yards, so there’s not a lot of room for off-berm trees. And the absence of shade over the pavement in summer creates a “heat island” effect. Not only will it feel hotter during the daytime; it will feel hotter at night as the asphalt which has been absorbing heat all day, gives it off at night. And there’s a lot less rain being absorbed than if trees were still there. I don’t think any street in Newton should have to look like this.
My street has lost 5 gigantic old Norway Maples in the past 5 years. Several were cut down as they were damaged by the winter moth and badly in decay. One of them 3 years ago fell on my roof/house leading to $25,000. in house repairs.
Three weeks ago my neighbor’s tree sent 2 main stem branches hurling to the ground taking out all the electric and cable wires in its path. My house lost power for the rest of the day and cost me $900. for repairs. Since then the city has removed the tree. Our street looks very bare now. Two big maples still stand 60 ft. tall but they are badly damaged with decay also.
Many home owners have planted young trees along the berm but it will take some time for the street to be green and shaded once more.
Julie: Thanks for the posting. The “tree in the middle” doesn’t look as though it has much time left, either. We have lost both Norway Maples in front of our house and several others on the street have also been removed over the past 5 to 10 years. Our Norway’s succumbed to a combination of blight and ice storms that cracked the brittle wood in the limbs. The Norway’s had earlier replaced some beautiful Sugar Maples and Elms on this street.
Julia, there is quite a similar stretch of street – Linwood Avenue between Walnut and Watertown – very dense, small yards and very few trees, and I don’t belileve there are any street trees at all.
Colleen, I’m glad all those bad experiences didn’t put you off trees forever! Bob, you’re right, since the tree is tagged for removal, and the backlog is almost done, it will probably be cut down within the month, unless it’s suddenly superseded by more urgent removals.
I should note that anyone on a block or street with a lot of “tree vacancies” should consider applying for a Newton Tree Conservancy Community Tree Planting, as Colleen’s neighborhood did. It’s not the complete answer to loss of trees, since we’re logistically limited to clusters of spots close together, and you have to be willing to help on planting day, water for two years, and keep the mulched area weeded. But it’s a start, and it’s a lot of fun, too.
Margaret (who has helped on a lot of our planting days — thank you!), if you live near that Linwood area and would like to help organize a group, I have names of some people who were interested. There were never quite enough, but there have been a number of recent removals around Linwood and Nevada. We’ve planted on Fessenden in 2011, Fair Oaks & Bemis in 2012, and we’re doing Wyoming Ave this spring (planting day April 27), so I feel like we’re gradually making a difference in this part of Newtonville at least.
@Margaret and Julia. Linwood Avenue does, however, have one of the few remaining elm trees in Newton and it is in pretty decent shape. Tim Snyder, from the Newton Democratic City Committee, takes saplings from the tree and gives them to people who want to plant elm trees on their property. Don’t know how he does it.