Mike Ruby needs your help.
Recent studies show that tree cover in Seattle has declined dramatically, and Mike’s been working on a project that, once complete, will hopefully shed some light on how the trees of Wallingford have changed over the past two decades. Using two existing lists that inventory trees in the neighborhood, he wants to determine which of them are still around.
To give you a little bit of history, back in 1992, two tree-minded people—Arthur Lee Jacobson and Evelyn Roehl–created a map of Wallingford, hopped on bikes, and counted trees. In an e-mail to me, Arthur writes, “Evelyn and I bicycled up and down virtually every street in the area covered by her map, and I suggested those trees that were, to me, noteworthy.” The Jacobson/Roehl inventory has about 200 trees, and there are 150 species listed. The second list comes from SDOT, which lists street trees.
Now, this is where you come in.
Mike’s looking for 40 volunteers to walk around their own immediate neighborhood and check out the trees. He writes,
We have broken out the Jacobson/Roehl list and the SDOT list into small areas of six to eight blocks. You only have to be able to say that a tree that seems it could be the listed tree is still there. If you are feeling like doing more we will have a few additional tasks you could do, like identifying additional trees that you feel are also significant and should be on our inventory. And you will learn from the lists just what kind of tree that is you’ve been walking past.
Can you take some time before the leaves fall to walk around your neighborhood (or maybe somewhere else in Wallingford if your neighbor has already volunteered) and complete our check list? If you are able to help, please send an email to Mike Ruby (mruby@ envirometrics.com. You will receive the inventories and detailed instructions.
Any time you can spare to help would be tree-mendous!
We’ve had a tree-mendous response. But we still need some folks who would be willing to do some areas north of 50th to 60th and west of Stone south of 45th. Hope all of you in “outer” Wallingford will come aboard. And thanks to all the fabulous volunteers who are starting out their doors to look at trees.