Is SMGA Cutting Down Trees?

Several weeks ago the volunteer trail crew  received a message written in chalk on one of the benches in Prospect Park. It said (roughly) ‘stop cutting down trees. They are needed for habitat’.

Since the message was written in chalk (and not spray paint) and it showed a concern for the park, we would like to reply.

We have taken out many ligustrum and small ash junipers from the park–perhaps as many as three hundred. We hope to take more. We do this because ligustrum is an invasive which stops the growth of grasses and other flora in the understory. It also inhibits the growth of trees we do want, such as oaks and mountain laurels. In laying down the uprooted ligustrum we also hope to create a good habitat for small mammals such as squirrels.

We would also like our correspondent to know that we carry out these activities with the approval of the City, and we follow the advice of an experienced field biologist who tours the park with us about once a year to give us suggestions.

If we may make a suggestion to our concerned friend, use the web site to send us messages. With the blessed return of rain we could well miss the next message in chalk.