Trees are good for nature—of course, because they are part of nature. They retain soil and moisture, spread shade, remove carbon from the atmosphere, and provide food and shelter for innumerable species of animals, from tiny wasp larvae to chunky caterpillars, from squirrels to eagles.

Trees are also good for people, who, whether they think about it or not, depend on nature. Trees cool asphalt, enhance the attraction of city streets and yards, and soothe our daily stresses.

West Chester Arborist Mike Dunn has been heading up a tree-planting program in the Borough, and similar efforts are underway in surrounding communities; see, e.g., Goshen Tree Tenders here.

As a public education measure, our allies in the West Chester Tree Team have helped by distributing a 2-page brochure of the International Society of Arboriculture, entitled “Benefits of Trees.” (Download it from the Borough site here.)

The brochure sets forth:

• Social Benefits: Trees in our communities make us feel at home, calm, personally connected to them (and nature)….

• Communal Benefits: privacy, views, glare reduction….

• Environmental Benefits: heat moderation, air quality improvement, runoff absorption, wildlife habitats, wind reduction, reduction of pollutants….

• Economic Benefits: increased property values, reduction of heating and cooling costs, less need for storm water control facilities….

• Trees Require an Investment: of course, maintenance is needed to acquire the benefits….

For educational info from ISA, see Trees Are Good. According to the site’s Tree Benefit Calculator, one large white oak tree in our area confers benefits of about $500 a year!

See also our post “Value and Savings from 800 street trees, West Chester Borough” here. and the WC Tree Team / Living Landscape’s 2021 tree report here.