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PARK TREES IN VERY POOR CONDITION
More than half the trees in
west Hamilton's Victoria Park are in “very poor condition” according
to results of last summer’s
Trees Count inventory in parts of the
Strathcona neighbourhood.
Trees Count examined
nearly 900 public and private
trees in a select area that includes
the park. It found almost
half of the city-owned trees
in very poor condition - including
about half of the 151
trees in Victoria Park. More
than a fifth of city-owned
trees are “potentially hazardous”.
This is the third tree inventory
carried out in west
Hamilton by staff and volunteers
of Environment Hamilton
and all have found at
least a fifth of city-owned
trees in very poor condition.
But trees in the Strathcona
neighbourhood are worse
than those in Westdale and
Kirkendall.
The Ontario chapter of the
International Society of
Arboriculture recommends
that large city trees and ones
in high-use areas, such as
active parks, should be inspected
every year, with others
examined on a three to
five year cycle.
At present, city-owned
trees are inspected only once
every 12 years. The city forestry department has requested
an increase of up to
$10.3 million from city council
to bring inspections up to
a five-year cycle, but the
spending is not currently included
in the 2005 budget.
Reprinted from CATCH
(Citizens at City Hall), a
group that watches City Hall.
You can receive their news
free at CATCH@cogeco.ca.
CITY STREET TREES AVAILABLE
The 2004 city budget re-established
a street tree
planting program on road
allowances and other city
properties.
The program allows citizens
to ask for a tree in front
of their property. Requests
can be made by phone (905)
546-CITY or through the city
website at http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/
Parks/Forestry/Tree-Planting-Program/default.asp.
You need to place your
order by June 15 to allow
forestry staff to investigate
the site to ensure the species
selection and planting
location conform to the city’s
policies and procedures.
Over the next few months,
TreesHamilton will feature
some of the 35
plus species available through the
city’s program.
Red Maple Acer rubrum
|
This month we suggest
Red Maple (Acer rubrum).
This is an excellent street
tree that likes sandy loam
and moderately moist sites.
It is medium-sized, usually
growing 13-20 metres, but
occasionally exceeding 30
metres with an irregular or
rounded crown.
The accompanying photo
illustrates the fall colour provided
by this native species.
Colonists boiled the bark
to create a dark red ink and
dye. Although it is not as
high in sugar content as the
Sugar or Black Maple, syrup
can be made by boiling down
Red Maple’s sap.
Environment Hamilton’s tree programs
are supported by:
