As the Chairman of the Montpelier Tree Board since 1992, John Snell has seen highs and lows of tree stewardship in Montpelier. He offers an insight into the challenges the town's faced, and the great benefits that trees can bring to our communities.
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Struggles with Salt
Working Together as a Community
For Snell, the iconic beauty of trees in small town Vermont settings is one of the irreplaceable benefits of healthy public trees. "I love the shades of green, the textures of the leaves, the flowers and, of course, the colors in the fall. And then there is nothing like a shade tree on a warm summer day, is there?" Not only do Montpelier residents enjoy the fruits of the labor, but also the labor itself. "We have kids and grandparents and all ages in between helping out. When I look at what we have accomplished, even if there is much left to be done, I’m amazed."
Benefits that Last a Lifetime
On the list of things that need to be done, this summer the Tree Board will be testing out new tree guards. It's just another step they're taking to move forward and make improvements. While the work varies, the motivation behind the work remains constant: "giving a gift that will last beyond one’s own life and to share great times with others who are interested in trees."
This is truly a cause worth working towards.