The recent editorial “Trees are important to Sussex County” was very informative regarding the current environmental status here in Lewes. The loss of 3,500 acres of woodlands every year is truly staggering due to the negative impact on erosion control and water runoff. However, it is not just Sussex County officials who need to recognize and deal with the loss of trees.
For the past five years, we have been actively involved with the Bay Pointe Home Owners Association petitioning for the replacement of diseased non-native trees (i.e., Bradford Pear) planted here by the developer. During the past 12 years, following the development of the Bay Pointe community, over 50 dead and diseased trees were removed from our community areas. During this same time period, the Bay Point Board of Directors has begrudgingly planted only one lone tree in a community area. Needless to say, despite acres and acres of weeds in our open space community areas, we are still not permitted to plant donated small native Delaware trees in any of these areas.
Selected committee members of Bay Pointe and their cronies steadfastly believe there is no tangible benefit for native Delaware trees in our community despite a canopy level of less than 3 percent. A witty neighbor journalist stated that since we liked trees so much, we should leave Bay Pointe and move to Alaska. In summary, our environmental efforts to plant five to six small trees per year have been an epic failure! Despite raising over $10,000 in donated funds, our numerous requests to the Bay Pointe Board of Directors to plant trees in our community areas have met with consistent denials over the past five years.
If the residents of Sussex County are truly concerned regarding the loss of trees and woodlands, then everyone is going to have participate in the solution. Homeowner associations, property managers, individuals, and private landowners should consider what they can do to help reforestation efforts by planting both small and large native trees based on their available land space. For small properties, good choices include the American Fringe Tree, Columnar Hornbeams and Redbuds. For larger properties, noted author Douglas Tallamy recommends a wide variety of oak trees. Fall is the recommended time for tree planting here in Sussex County – please take action and plant a tree.
-
A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to newsroom@capegazette.com. Letters must be signed and include a telephone number and address for verification. Please keep letters to 500 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content and length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days. Letters restating information and opinions already offered by the same author will not be used. Letters must focus on issues of general, local concern, not personalities or specific businesses.
