By Colin J. Campbell

Op-Ed Commentary

Several years ago, when a windstorm blew through our city we lost most of our trees. They were fir, pine and spruce – some over 150 years old. The wind made short work of them leaving the yard quite naked and bare. When the decisions were being made to replace the trees we chose maple, laurel, Russian olive and flowering crab instead of fir or spruce.

The trees we planted five years ago are beginning to mature and create a canopy of shade in the summer and a favourite place for the birds in the winter. They are adorned with bird feeders, which attract a wide range of species every day.

The trees are quite sacred as were the ones that got blown over, they are special and part of our family. As I thought about this and the fact that we make furniture and other items out of trees that have value, how do we justify cutting them down.

In our area they are a renewable resource; we can plant new trees and manage our forests as caretakers and marvel at how Mother Nature will reforest a forest devastated by fire or a windstorm. The wood harvested in our forests goes to build houses and other buildings that have value and will provide enjoyment and shelter for many years.

Recently I wanted to build a coffee table for my office (pictured above). The top and the legs were from a fir tree that was about 150 years old, toppled in a windstorm. The highlights on the top were mahogany from a case built in shop class by a friend 30 years ago that was no longer being used for what it was designed for, the legs spacers were made from walnut award plaques that another friend had received in her real estate career. The wood has not lost its special value in the process of being turned into a useful tool or piece of furniture.

Now I look forward with renewed anticipation to spring and what it will bring. There will be more birds, and of course new growth on the trees. There will be many lazy days in the shade of the Laurel and Maple enjoying the solitude of the sanctuary that is our backyard thanks to our beloved trees.

– Colin J. Campbell, CLU, Ch.F.C. is Managing Partner of Guidance Planning Strategies Ltd. in Cranbrook he can be reached at [email protected] or on Facebook

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