Dear Friends of savebouldertrees.org,
I wanted to let you know that on Monday, October 22, the State Champion Horsechestnut Tree on my property at 1040 Pine Street will be removed. Many of you, I'm sure, have followed the story of this tree - the largest Horsechestnut in the state. During the course of construction on the property adjacent to mine, Mapleton Place (the old Howe Mortuary), 60-70% of this tree's roots were severed. In order for the tree to remain, it must be stabilized with guy wires. Several of those guy wires must go onto the property of Mapleton Place. The developers of Mapleton Place, however, will not allow these guy wires to be installed. I have been left with no choice but to have the tree removed. Just halfway through its life, this Champion Horsechestnut has lived in its spot for over 80 years. The aesthetic and environmental benefits we are losing with its demise are enormous. No one knows that better than I do. I live directly across the street from the tree at 1043 Pine. The view as I look south is filled with the lush green spread of its exquisite canopy. With that canopy gone, I will be looking directly at the hard surfaces of the new houses and lofts that caused this loss. I mourn for the tree; I mourn for the neighborhood. And I am left questioning the values of our community. |
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I will be holding a small service at the tree on Sunday, Oct 21st at 11AM. You are welcome to come and bring a thought or reading to share. You will find the tree by following the set of steps next to the new stone and cedar retaining wall that separates the east side of my property from Mapleton Place.
We have 83 (soon to be 82) State Champion Trees in Boulder. The city is well aware of what has happened here, and is taking action to try and prevent this from ever happening again. Procedures are being put in place to better protect our remaining champions, as well as the rest of the 300,000 trees in our urban forest. New and improved tree protection ordinances will need to follow.
I believe that the next step is to form a citizens group in Boulder that will continue to give voice to the need to protect our landmark trees and our entire urban forest. Over the course of the next few months, I will be calling together a meeting for anyone interested in forming such a group. To learn about Boulder's tree protection ordinances and to stay in touch with the date and time of a citizens meeting, please visit my website www.savebouldertrees.org. Sign up to be on the email list and I will keep you posted as to when that meeting will occur. If you'd like to become more involved in this effort you can also email me at .
Thank you.
Margery Goldman
1043 Pine St.
www.savebouldertrees.org