Saratoga News
News
Heritage Tree Society reborn, thanks to Hunter
By Jason Sweeney
When three big Saratoga trees were cut down in one week, Jill Hunter decided to restart the Saratoga Heritage Tree Society. The society was formed in the 1980s but had disbanded.At the Mustard Walk last February, Hunter found a lot of people were interested in her idea, and later that month, the new Heritage Tree Society held its first meeting.
About 60 people are currently members. They hold meetings and keep in touch through an email list. They have also selected Saratoga's first 20 heritage trees.
At a meeting of the Saratoga City Council on April 19, the city honored Saratoga's first 20 designated heritage trees by proclaiming April 28 as Arbor Day in the city. The heritage trees were chosen by the Heritage Tree Society for their size, age, beauty and history.
An oak tree on Lynn and Jerry Gurley's property was one of the trees selected. The Gurleys' large oak has been determined to be 250 years old. Another tree on the list is the Mary Brown redwood in the Madronia Cemetery. It was planted by a father at the gravesite of his son, who was killed in World War I. The redwood has since grown over the headstone, but the trunk is carved so that the headstone remains visible. The redwood was named after Mary Brown, the wife of abolitionist John Brown, who was hanged in 1859 for the raid on Harper's Ferry. Mary Brown is buried in the Madronia Cemetery next to the redwood tree that has grown over the World War I soldier's grave.
"This community has gorgeous trees," Hunter said. "I think we have to honor our heritage trees."
Once the Heritage Tree Society selects a tree, if the owner gives written permission, the tree will go before the Heritage Preservation Commission. If the commission finds the tree notable, it will then go before the city council, which will vote on whether to give the tree official status.
Hunter said the Heritage Tree Society is hoping to do a tree inventory to find out how many significant trees exist in Saratoga. The society also has a tree walk, led by arborist Barrie Coate, scheduled for May 6 at 10 a.m. starting at the Madronia Cemetery.
Hunter is working to have Saratoga named "Tree City USA" by the National Arbor Day Foundation. According to the National Arbor Day Foundation website, Tree City USA status provides several benefits, such as standards that help get a community started toward annual, systematic management of its tree resources, and preferential status for allocations of grant money made for trees or forestry programs.
In a proclamation read by Mayor Norman Kline in council chambers, trees were said to be important to the community. They reduce erosion, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate temperature, clean the air, provide habitat for wildlife and increase property values, among other benefits.
"A smart community preserves its trees," Hunter said.
