To the editor:

The ‘rural’ neighborhood characteristics found in Tiverton are due to the tree canopy that is established throughout the town. Tiverton trees are a major part of the environmental scenery, whether they be natural or landscaped projects. Trees have set apart Tiverton from other localities of Newport County.

Many trees are lost each year due to natural causes such as wind storms and defoliation of trees by gypsy and winter caterpillars and other insects. Also, humans do a lot of damage to trees due to neglect and lack of care of trees. Many trees are lost due to home construction and development. Thus, trees need to be replaced for many obvious reasons.

The new Tiverton library is one such case. Trees had to be removed for its construction. We now have an excellent library facility for our town that will serve the needs of its citizens. The Tiverton Planning Board’s review of the new library ensured that the tree landscape would be replaced. The library building committee was in full agreement to this request and have agreed to plant numerous trees. This commitment by the building committee will enhance the property and the area.

Planting new trees is not a one-step process. A newly planted tree needs to be watered for at least two years before it can establish a sufficient root system to take up water and nutrients.  Thus, the new trees at the library need to be watered in the hot and dry months of summer in order for them to survive.

So there is a need for volunteers to do this task. I’m trying to organize such a group to be tree tenders at the library. It is a task that will require an hour of a person’s time on a weekly basis most likely a Friday or Saturday morning.

If you are interested and have the time to help out, please call Peter Moniz at 625-5328  or email /pmoniz@cox.net.

Peter Moniz

Tiverton Tree Commission