Re: “Dozens of Beacon Hill Park trees to be axed,” March 15.
The Victoria parks department has plans to cut down 340 or more flowering Japanese cherry trees in Beacon Hill Park that were donated by Victoria’s sister city. In 1991, these trees were planted in fertile soil and drainage was added to protect the roots .
About eight years ago, the parks department removed the drainage pipes, as well as more than 2,000 yards of soil surrounding them and replaced the soil with “native” soil at a great expense.
These trees might have survived if the drainage pipe had not been removed and the trees watered during the dry season a couple times a month.
I wonder if the removal has more to do with the fact that the parks department wants to have native trees instead of ornamental cherry trees.
Perhaps we should look at removing the tropical palm trees next.
Raj Sundher
Victoria
