Saint Mary’s Tree Work

By Lucy Ellis

In 2024 the Buildings and Grounds Committee completed an assessment of tree work needed on the property. We created a summary of work needed, met with three providers, edited the summary, and requested bids from three companies. We selected Davey for work on the property. This was, to my knowledge, the first overall appraisal in at least twenty years, not including work around the parish house during its renovation. The trigger for action was the dying hemlocks in the small grove across from the formal garden and the aged row of sugar maples along our front lawn drive.

We now have a strong understanding of the tree work needed and plan to address the items in the years ahead. We have a strategy of completing tree work regularly, as needed, to ensure safety and spread the costs spread over time.

Two components have been completed to date:

First - Alongside the first Waite’s Landing Road (WLR) entrance: 1) A section of trunk up in the canopy had broken off and was resting horizontally and 2) a tree along that entrance road was leaning over the road.

Second - Three additional dead/dying items were recently removed. One was a tree diagonally across from the church entrance that was leaning and had its roots on shelf. The second was a large elm near the WLR playground entrance. The third was a maple tree directly behind the auditorium that looked healthy but had a large area of decay on the backside.

Third - Two dead/dying trees right along our perimeter. We contacted the Town of Falmouth and CMP in hopes it would be under the purview of one or the other and, drum roll… it was! A large oak by the first entrance on WLR and right under the power line, will be removed soon by CMP, and the other, a dead maple on 88 at our southern end, will be removed when CMP next works in that area on their regular cycle of maintenance.

Fourth – Our next items will be determined soon. Possibly the brittle diseased ash trees by the playground entrance, the dying hemlocks in the grove or the sugar maples by the great lawn.

We are very fortunate at Saint Mary’s to have a large, varied and beautiful property. The B&G team members regularly work on the property to ensure it is well maintained. If you are interested in picking up winter sticks, light gardening, pruning or mulching, join in the effort! The B&G team works on Tuesday afternoons in and around the property. All are welcome to drop in and help. If you are interested, contact Hugh Smith, committee chair.