Save Denim's Tree Facebook Page

Sometimes, great gifts come in small packages.  It is not a spilled oil crisis.  It is not the entire destruction of a forest on another side of the world.  But it does not mean it is not important, with valuable lessons to be learned.

I have recently become engaged in a situation occurring in the Woodstock (Oxford County) area.  The issue has received local media and radio coverage, and has touched the hearts of not only local residents, but citizens from various provinces.  Many have joined us on  Facebok in a group called Save Denim’s Tree.

Unfortunately, it is now too late to save Denim’s Tree; I’ll explain that momentarily.  Denim is a three year old boy living with his widowed grandmother.  They moved in about two months ago, and almost immediately, she was put on notice by her neighbor, a lawyer, that she MUST cut down her native maple tree due to the damage it was causing his car from leaves and wildlife droppings.  For some, this issue is ‘just about a tree’ or a neighbourhood dispute.  But in reality, there are many more layers. 

It is about respect for one another; it is about how people treat each other; it is about abuse of professional power.   Legal letters were written his own behalf and sent to this woman.  She quickly reached a state of despair and felt ‘helpless’ as the letters were quite intimidating.  She was referred to me for help. because she loves her tree. Having read those letters personally, I was in fact quite disturbed and felt no hesitation in supporting her ‘cause’.

In the letters, it was pointed out that if the maple tree was not taken down to the stump within 30 days (that would make the deadline December 16), he would take her to court for damages not only to his car, but also those of invitees to his property, as well as hold her accountable for all court related costs.  Cited were damages from bird and insect droppings, leaves entering the ventilation system, tree sap, and having to wash his car on too frequent a basis.  Silly you may think, it’s ‘just a tree and it's just a car, but she felt powerless upon receiving those ‘legal letters from a lawyer’, that is until she was surrounded and supported by a caring community. 

When I think of the Green Party values, which include ecological wisdom, non-violence, social justice, sustainability, participatory justice and respect for democracy, on so many levels these values are being challenged here in Woodstock as it relates to this issue.  Public awareness and outcry quickly built following the development of the Facebook group and the media attention received.  The other day, Denim’s tree was cut down with a hand saw in the dead of night.  Nobody knows who did it and that is best left to the local police force to investigate.  Ironically, even the Mercedes Benz owned by the lawyer was significantly damaged in the fall of the tree. 

But what is happening is that a community is now  rallying around the woman and her grandchild with even more passion.  People have stepped forward to offer her a good sized maple tree and the planting of that same tree.  People want to gather at her residence to show their support in person.  It is apparent that many people see this situation as much more than the felling of a tree in the dead of night.  It is a common belief in social justice, a sadness that needless violence and destruction occurred, and the growing awareness that public participation and support is imperative.  Most certainly, it is a reminder that many still need to learn the value of ecological systems and the importance of not only protecting, but enhancing the urban landscape.

Please seek out the related Facebook group and consider joining and offering your thoughts.  Why not show that Green Party members stand behind the values of the party.  As I say, sometimes, great gifts come in small packages.  The gift we have before us is to show a community we care and admire the community spirit which is crystallizing. 

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_116886411711396    (Facebook support group)

http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2864230 (Related Sentinel Review article)

http://www.1047.ca/local-news   Article further down, titled:  Disputed Tree Cut Down Illegally