Tree trimming along Victoria Avenue recently sparked numerous complaints to the municipality and this newspaper.
We reached out to talk to Ryan Brown, director of Public Works, to discuss the issue.
Davey Tree Care is doing the work after winning the bid over the winter for “proactive tree trimming,” Brown said.
“There is a whole list of trees on our busiest streets,” Brown said. “They’re heightening canopies, doing structural treatment and dead wooding. The contract includes no removals. They are doing proactive tree care around the city.”
Brown said there is also no tree capping taking place as part of the work.
“They will absolutely not be topping the trees,” he said, adding that only shortens the lifespan of a tree.
Victoria Avenue is home to some of the oldest growth in Chatham. And some of that growth is coming to its end of life.
“They’re really big trees. The message we’re trying to send is somebody had a really great vision on this street about 100 years ago. These trees are old and we need to do some proactive work to keep these trees looking great,” he said.
Several years ago, the municipality did remove about two-dozen trees along Victoria Avenue, Brown said. But those were replaced.
He said the ongoing work is to ensure Victoria Avenue continues with its tree-lined beauty.
“If we don’t do anything, all those trees will be gone in the next 25 years,” Brown said, adding the work is being expertly supervised.
“At least one person on site has to be a certified arborist. This is not a bunch of yahoos hacking and slashing,” he said. “If they think a tree is not in good shape, they call the municipality. This project is really about making Chatham-Kent’s trees beautiful.”
When the municipality opts to remove a tree, Brown said it is a decision made with safety in mind.
“Sometimes we have to cut down trees. And sometimes they blow over. When those trees do come down in storms, they’re taking out all the hydro and falling on homes,” he said.
He said the municipality is not looking to eradicate the atmosphere along the street.
“Somebody had a vision and it worked out really well,” Brown said of Victoria Avenue. “But these trees are 100 years old. They won’t last forever.”
