At the April 13th SVRA meeting a new committee “Green Seaton” was formed.
The committee was formed in response to concern raised over the city’s (Davey was contracted to do the job) recent and extensive pruning of trees throughout Seaton Village.
Linda Read and Allison Laux are overseeing this committee. Please let us know if you would like to be a part of the Green Seaton Committee.
Green Seaton Committee Meeting Wednesday May 19th 7:00 pm
It’s spring so we’re rejuvenating our efforts to green our community!
Past SVRA successes include:
- tree planting and management in the park;
- getting free trees for residents’ front and back yards;
- initiating the compost drop off every May.
Our agenda for May 19 - to come up with ideas to manage our aging tree canopy, green our laneways, and help the community enjoy our green spaces.
We look forward to having you join us,
Allison and Linda
Below is a brief of the pruning activity in Seaton Village in the early spring of 2011, submitted by Linda and Allison:
Due to an alert from SVRA, the City is examining the quality of tree pruning in our neighbourhood. Tree pruning halted for inspection.
The Climbing Tree
The reports are true. The pruning has been aggressive and largely unnecessary. You don’t need any specific address to look at–the entire neighbourhood has been done the same way. Walk down any block and every single tree has lower limbs gone–whether they needed it or not.
This community values its trees, but it should be noted that our tree canopy is mostly mature and degrading. There have been a few trees topple onto cars, and our mature trees have required pruning or removal. If a branch is unhealthy or unstable, if a tree will grow better without it, then the tree needs to be pruned. For a few years, the urban forestry dept was overwhelmed with work, and it took a long time between a call for pruning to be answered. So, it is quite heartening to see the City being proactive about our forest.
The current neighbourhood pruning, however, has been done without any advisory or communication with residents. The pruning work is not in response to calls for attention, but rather a total review of our forest, leaving few trees untouched, whether they need it or not.
If you look at the work which has been done, there is a pattern. Lower limbs are removed on younger trees. Anything near a power line has been lopped. The criteria for this crew is questionable. Most lower branches are not in any way threatening pedestrian or vehicular traffic. This crew has independently decided that all lower limbs should be removed, and the majority of these branches are healthy. The lower limbs of the pine trees around St Peter’s School and in the park have been cut off, although they were healthy and had no pedestrian or
vehicle problems. The trees around St Peter’s have it hard enough, many of them being asphalted right up to their trunks. Unnecessary removal of branches compromises their ability to survive.
The work on younger street trees has been largely unnecessary. This crew spent two weeks pruning the trees in the park, and the community noted that it seemed excessive, both in time and work.
The majority of work which has been done on large, mature trees though is excellent. The large silver maple on the south end of St Peter’s needed work, and as it has no home owner to ask for work so it is heartening to see it taken care of. As well, there were large limbs removed from older trees around the neighbourhood, and this was work which was needed.
Here is the status:
- On April 13 at the SVRA meeting, residents complained that park front yard trees were being improperly pruned in our neighbourhood.
- SVRA requested that Adam Vaughn’s office put a freeze on the pruning. Rebecca Hewitt, Adam Vaughan’s Consitituency Assistant alerted the city’s Tree Protective Services Supervisor.
- The pruning is now on hold (since Thursday April 14th 2011) and the City is sending a Forestry Supervisor to examine specific trees identified by the “Greening Seaton Village” committee, including many in the park.
The SVRA will report back when we hear from the City.
If you are concerned with the manner in which your tree has been pruned, or know of a tree within Seaton Village that has been pruned in a manner that is concerning, please send us a message at seatonvillagetoronto@gmail.com
BACK YARD TREE PROGRAM
Thanks to some remaining funds made available from the Harbord Village Residents’ Association, who received a grant for backyard trees from the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation, we are now offering trees to Seaton Village Residents.
If you are interested in planting a tree in your backyard, please send us a message at seatonvillagetoronto@gmail.com and we will assist you with getting one.
Tree Tenders Volunteer Training with LEAF http://www.yourleaf.org
This 15-hour, four-session training program is designed for individuals who want to gain tree-related knowledge and skills. If you?ve ever wanted to learn more about trees, and how to properly care for them then this course for you!
Each session provides basic arboriculture training which includes a combination of indoor and outdoor instruction. The final day of the course includes a group tree planting, putting the knowledge learned to practice.
Course One :Bloor/Gladstone Library, 1101 Bloor St. West, Toronto
Host: LEAF Cost: $50 / $70 with course material (+HST)
Tuesday, May 10, 2011, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 12, 2011, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 14, 2011, 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Course Two Bickford Learning Center, 777 Bloor St. West, Toronto
Host: LEAF Cost: $50 / $70 with course material (+HST)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 2, 2011, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 4, 2011, 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Registration required. For more info, go to:
