Saving Our Heritage Trees

The English poet William Blake observed, “The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eye of others only a green thing which stands in the way.” The truth of this statement is especially tragic when it comes to heritage trees. 

Heritage trees are those that are important because of their great size, notable longevity, unusual form, location at the extreme of their natural growing range, or association with history. Some, like those at Mount Vernon planted by George Washington, are of national importance. Others have local significance, and these are found in virtually every community. 

What happens to these trees is often a sad story, and one that is all too common. For example, there was an old Bartlett pear tree growing on the campus of a state university. It was the last remnant of what had been a farm before expansion of the campus. Bartlett pears are known for their long life, and this one was still in fair condition. It provided shade, species diversity, a little wildlife habitat, and luscious pears enjoyed by the students. One day the campus planners decided that its little spot along the street would make a good pull-off bus stop. Despite some objections and opportunities to place the bus stop elsewhere, the tree was cut down. With it went a link with the past and opportunities for interpreting history to the current generation of students. By contrast, we are heartened by stories like the cucumbertree magnolia saved essentially by the actions of a single individual, reported later in this bulletin. 

Saving heritage trees extends a link across generations. It helps develop values for things beyond the material, values almost of a spiritual nature. It also reminds us, as expressed by Arbor Day originator J. Sterling Morton, “Each generation takes the earth as trustees.” Passing along a community’s special trees is part of that responsibility as temporary stewards.