Environmental crime scene in Margate? Those trying to preserve the last remaining vestiges of greenery in our Downbeach community likely feel this way. Quite frankly, we’re amazed that the destruction of mature trees can happen so easily.
Mature Margate Trees Often Lose Battle to Builders & Development
Over the years the oaks provided thousands of birds with food and shelter. Squirrels have danced around the trunks and climbed their branches. Birds have come from miles around to meet, eat and sing. Sadly, they will not be able to come around anymore. Their homes have been cut down.
Neighbors will miss the birds and the music they provided for the community. The oaks also took care of their neighbor. Their mighty branches protected the house from the hot sun, helping to keep the residents cool and their energy bills down. Many who walked under their canopy were grateful for the shade they provided.
Four mature oaks once provided shade, beauty and wildlife shelter, at corner of Rumson & Monmouth Ave in Margate.
The oaks will be greatly missed by those who knew them. Unfortunately, most of them have already moved on, and the new residents will never have known what life was like under the protection of the mighty oaks. It’s a shame they weren’t allowed to continue to live there.
They were unique to the area, as the oaks have lost many family members throughout the years as the area has changed.
Not many of the old established trees are left. In their place are newer, nonindigenous trees. Perhaps the oaks were overgrown, or maybe they became diseased and needed to come down for safety reasons. Nevertheless, the replacement trees will not provide the shade the old oaks did. Nor will they be able to provide food and shelter for their fine-feathered friends like the oaks did.
It takes many years for a tree to grow to a substantial size. Something needs be done to protect what trees are left. Consideration of the value of older trees ought to be taken seriously. Also, when new trees are planted, they should be of a variety that is indigenous to the area, a species that is best suited to thrive in the local biome and support the local wildlife.
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