Phase 3 of Tree Maintenance Plan

The second project is Phase 3 of our campus wide Tree Maintenance Plan.

In March of 2024, the Church began a thorough review of the trees on our property, something that had not been done in quite some time. The catalyst was the visible hemlock damage in our entrance grove and branches regularly falling along our interior road. We have made great progress these past two years and will begin phase 3 this winter.

Some trees in phase 3 are along our interior road. Their removal, although sad, is necessary - it will ensure our safety, open up the view across our front lawn, and increase light for our formal garden.

This phase includes:

• Removal of the Norway Maple and three sugar maples along our interior road. These are trees that are end stage and drop branches regularly in a well-trafficked area. The area will now feature the two younger trees deeper in the lawn.

• Removal of a maple and four white pines along the entrance to our Formal Garden. Pines do not like water and for years rain had flowed directly into their root area. One pine has a double leader and seams that degrade the tree’s strength.

• Removal of three trees (a maple, oak and pine) in the wooded area along 88 between our Lychgate and Waites Landing Road. All are tagged, and the removal is due to rot, seams at the base, or dead wood.

• Removal of seven dead or dying Emerald Ash Borer trees in the woods adjacent to the dirt road at our play ground entrance.

Please reach out to the Wardens if you have any questions on either of these projects.