Academy Discusses Reduced Tree Diversity
In recent years, it has come to the attention of the community—particularly faculty members of the science department—that the population of trees on campus has been dwindling. Trees, surrounding the Phelps Science Center, lining the paths and embellishing the natural tones of campus, have not only played a role in the landscape, but have also been an integral part of the biology curriculum. The sharp decline in their population, due to renovations and razed sites for new buildings, has affected more than just the campus’ aesthetic.
In prep biology classes, students have used the trees around campus to design a cladogram, a map that shows the evolutionary relationship between species. However, due to the decline in tree species diversity and in population, the course had been modified every year and eventually was dropped, according to science instructor Sydnee Goddard.
“We feel a little helpless in all of this. My greatest hope is that our new principal, and our trustees, will get involved.”
Initially, biologists worked with the architects that designed the science center to incorporate different species of trees that bore berries or flowers and to encourage wildlife. This helped ornithology students find birds for their studies. The trees were also used in the Ecology elective during which learn about tree identification and the ecosystem.
The removal of trees seems to be an abrupt process, with little communication between campus management and the faculty. Goddard recalled a time when she and her prep class went back to revisit the results of a cladogram exercise and found that one of their specimens had been cut down. “It’s been frustrating to not have any knowledge of when a tree is going to be cut down,” she said.
Science instructor Anne Rankin shared Goddard’s frustration, mentioning that trees get cut down the most over break. “I hate coming back from break to find stumps and sprinklers,” she said. Rankin expressed her concern that trees, especially mature ones, are simply too valuable. “Old trees cannot be replaced in our lifetime. Living things are not disposable or easily replaceable, and I feel like we have lost track of that a bit in the last few years,” she said.
Goddard said the majority of the original trees surrounding the Science Center are now gone, leaving students confined to the classroom instead of interacting outdoors. “All of it’s gone except for one tree, and that’s there because I went out there when they were cutting it and told them to stop,” she said.
Many faculty members such as Rankin have expressed a problem with the way the loss of greenery has affected the campus aesthetic.“The campus used to be shaded, lush, quiet and beautiful. Now it feels tidy,” she said.
Instructor of English Duncan Holcomb felt deeply saddened by the destruction of these decades old specimens. “There was a great old tree, rumored to have been featured in ‘A Separate Peace’, cut down several years ago because students set up a rope swing on one of its branches,” Holcomb said.
In addition to the diminished tree populations, the ivy on many dorms have been removed. Holcomb argued that this is for fear of affecting the structural integrity of the brick buildings. “One of my biggest concerns is the way greenery and natural spaces have been destroyed whenever there is a sense that there is a cost or liability for the Academy,” he said.
The facilities management department is responsible for managing the campus landscape, including the trees. Roger Wakeman, Chief of Planning and Facilities, with support from Ron Johnson, Senior Manager for Grounds and Athletics, submitted an update on the campus landscape to The Exonian. The report maintained that “[trees] are a highly valued resource that is managed under the guiding principles of safety, conservation, preservation and enhancement.”
The report outlined the reasoning behind the removal of trees on campus. The invasion of non-native species, including the Norway Maple, produces a large quantity of seeds that quickly germinate. It was necessary to remove the invasive species to prevent a monoculture. Additionally, the density of some plantings became so large that thinning out several trees became necessary to allow others to flourish.
Moreover, in consulting with the Academy’s advising arborist, some trees were deemed an imminent threat to the Academy or an impediment to the public right-of-way. For example, in the spring of 2015 arborists were hired to prune limbs away from overhead lines along Court Street and Front Street as they posed a hazard for maintaining electrical service. Some trees posed a threat to the utility and infrastructure of buildings as well, making pruning or injection treatments necessary.
The facility management department shares the value of old specimens; the general approach of any campus project is to work around them, or if unavoidable replace them. “In several cases, mature trees have been replanted in other areas of campus to avoid the loss of a high value specimen,” the report said.
Many developments have been scheduled to enhance the current landscape. The South Campus Master has been planned to extend our green campus across Court Street and down a new tree-lined walk on the former Gilman Street. There will be a green meadow to connect to the performing arts building as a replacement of the tennis courts. The ramp to Love Gym will be removed, resulting in a new quad with large trees, and the area behind the facilities management compound will be completely reworked to create a more scenic and natural buffer to the river area.
The current plan also identifies over 300 trees that will be planted in the South Campus area along with new shrub beds and perennial plantings. An effort is also underway to include the science department’s desires for curriculum support in the design of the landscape. Moreover, the Wetherell quad that was heavily impacted by the the recent Wheelwright Hall renovation will be renovated early in the summer.
However, it will most likely be free of trees. During campus work sessions open to the community, there has been a desire for more open space to allow for activities, such as frisbee, and to allow more visibility for the classic architecture of the historic campus buildings.
Goddard believed the Academy should look towards sustainable development, which is developing area while retaining the positives that are already there in terms of the landscape, such as trees.
However, Goddard understands the layers of complexity in balancing development and sustainability. “It’s difficult—there’s only so many spaces on campus to build, but I think that needs to be part of the process,” she said.
Although saddened by Exeter’s loss of trees, science instructor Alison Hobbie looks forward to rebuilding the tree populations in the future. “If planned well, green spaces that emerge from renovations and new construction on campus could create an even wider variety of curriculum-based species and ecosystems,” Hobbie said.
Goddard hopes there will be change. “If Fisher Theater ever comes down that quiet little corner of campus could be developed as a green space or quiet space. It’s kind of like a little nook there. It would be nice to have a quiet space with some chairs and benches to study. That’s my dream,” Goddard said.
The science faculty had a meeting last Friday that they had requested to be more involved in future developments, especially the current expansion of the Forrestal-Bowld music building. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to get some of the positive features back,” Goddard said.
Some of the faculty members have signed a petition to cease the destruction of trees around campus. With this and Holcomb’s opinions article published in The Exonian, these faculty members will continue to speak out against this issue, with the hope of their voices being heard.
Holcomb believes the involvement of more executive voices in this is necessary to pass real change.
“We feel a little helpless in all of this. My greatest hope is that our new principal, and our trustees, will get involved,” he said.