Question: As a person who enjoys walking through Chestnut Hills cemetery for exercise, I enjoyed the recent pictures of the huge trees in different seasons. I have noticed over the years that a number of the large trees have had to be taken down because of deterioration from old age or storm damage. I have not seen any replacement oaks, elms, or maples being planted. Are there plans to keep this beautiful green canopy intact for future generations? I hope so.

— John Thomas

Salisbury

 

Answer: The City of Salisbury, which owns the cemetery, plans to maintain the cemetery’s tree canopy only to the extent that dying or fallen trees would be replaced.

Salisbury’s Cemetery Division Manager Linda Davis said the city tries to replace any tree damaged by weather, but doesn’t have any plans to plant new trees in Chestnut Hills.

“Any tree that comes down, we do try to replace,” Davis said.

If a tree hasn’t been damaged by weather, she sad the cemetery department may remove a tree if it appears to be dead.

“If there’s a fear of it falling on headstones or on a monument, that would be the only reason we ever take down a tree,” she said.

In a recent case, Davis said three trees were cut down to the trunk. However, the trunks are 30 to 40 feet high, she said.

The city could plant trees in cemeteries other than Chestnut Hills, she said. Because of the large number of trees in Chestnut Hill, Davis said the city doesn’t currently have plans to plant additional trees in the cemetery.

“There are lots of trees and we’re not planning on adding any more in [Chestnut Hills],” Davis said. “If one comes down we would replace it. That’s the plan.”

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