Davey Tree donated a Red Maple (Acer rubrum) tree to enhance the entrance to the North Shore Land Alliance’s nature preserve on April 29 at 95 Shore Rd. in Cold Spring Harbor. The planting took place in honor of Arbor Day.
Arbor Day was first proposed nearly 150 years ago by one J. Sterling Morton, who, with his wife, left his home in Detroit to put down roots (so to speak) in Nebraska. His adopted state was filled with prairies and had few trees and he, along with his fellow pioneers, missed their trees. Morton encouraged them to plant trees as windbreaks across the prairies and to provide shelter from the hot sun. As a journalist, he promoted tree planting to wide audiences and, in 1872, as secretary of the Nebraska Territory, he proposed the tree-planting holiday to the State Board of Agriculture.
The tree planted at Shore Road is native to the area and will help to beautify the preserve entrance, particularly with its glorious red leaves in early fall. Red maple seeds are eaten by squirrels and birds and the species is pollinated by bees and butterflies, including Tiger Swallowtails and Mourning Cloaks, in early spring. In speaking about the event, Jane Jackson, Land Alliance director of Stewardship, said, “Davey Tree has provided a variety of tree services for us at several of our preserves over the years. Much of the work has been donated and it is always first-rate. We are honored that they have expressed their generosity by planting a tree that will grace the gateway to the grassland at our Shore Road property.” She added, “It was just a few years ago that oil tanks occupied this property. Now the property’s eight acres function to protect the quality of our drinking water, Cold Spring Harbor and Long Island Sound.”
In discussing Davey’s decision to plant a tree at the property, Kevin Sheehan, certified arborist, commented, “I’m still learning about and astounded by the variety and magnitude of the preserves the Land Alliance owns and manages. We are delighted to support the important work they are doing to protect Long Island’s natural areas.” The tree planting took place at 95 Shore Rd., Cold Spring Harbor, on Friday, April 29. For more information, please contact Jane Jackson, director of Stewardship, at 516-626-0908 or www.jjackson@northshoreland alliance.org.
Editor’s note: The North Shore Land Alliance, Inc. (Land Alliance) is a nationally accredited land trust and nonprofit organization founded by a group of passionate conservationists concerned about how quickly the natural landscape was changing. Since it was founded in 2003, the Land Alliance has permanently protected more than 1,200 acres of local land and has raised $265 million in public and private funding for local land and water protection. The Land Alliance works to protect and preserve, in perpetuity, the green spaces, farmlands, wetlands, groundwater and historical sites of Long Island’s North Shore for the enhancement of quality of life and the enjoyment and benefit of future generations. For information about local land conservation, contact the Land Alliance office at 516-626-0908, email info@northshorelandalliance
.org or go to www.northshoreland alliance.org.
