Mayor, tree board member complete Tree Commission Academy homework

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SIDNEY — Mayor Mike Barhorst and Tree Board member Anne Sharp recently completed the required sophomore year Tree Commission Academy homework that must be completed prior to beginning their junior semester classes.

Their homework assignment consisted of inventorying street trees and sampling the soil in the tree lawn of a selected neighborhood, and then identifying species of trees that would thrive along a particular street.

Wendi Van Buren, an urban forester with the Ohio Division of Forestry, traveled to Sidney to assist them with their assignment.

“We first visited the neighborhood along Michigan Street near Wilson Memorial Hospital, the neighborhood adjacent to Deam Park, and the newest Plum Ridge neighborhood,” Barhorst explained. “Wendi actually recommended the Plum Ridge neighborhood because the satellite imagery she had reviewed prior to her visit indicated a lack of street trees. After some discussion, we selected the Plum Ridge neighborhood for our project.”

“As we walked along Winteridge Drive, Summerfield Trail, Bridlewood Drive and several other streets in the neighborhood,” Sharp said, “we were surprised by the total absence of street trees. In fact, many of the yards lacked trees as well.”

“There was very little top soil in most of the samples we took,” Van Buren said. “As a result, the trees that will eventually be recommended, will by necessity, be hardy varieties that we foresters refer to as ‘junk yard dogs’ because of their ability to survive in difficult environments.”

“Sidney has had an active tree board for a long time,” Van Buren said. “Regardless of a community’s size or capacity, tree commissions are vital in supporting the public employees who care for and expand the urban tree canopy. These citizens are the enthusiastic cheerleaders, advisors, and sounding boards that keep professional staff energized and connected to the public. Urban forests must be properly managed by dedicated and knowledgeable staff and officials so that communities may enjoy and sustain the benefits of trees.”

“The Ohio Division of Forestry created Tree Commission Academy (TCA) to provide formal training to volunteer tree commissioners, public managers, and elected officials. TCA is a series of four semesters of classes that help local volunteers and decision-makers understand the basics of urban forestry and their role in public resource management,” Van Buren said.

“TCA’s objective is to produce comfortable, confident, and knowledgeable ‘graduates’ capable of helping their community effectively meet its urban forestry mission. I am delighted that both Mike and Anne are planning to complete their junior and senior coursework in the next year.”

The Ohio Division of Forestry is a part of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Those interested in more information about urban forestry, TCA, or any other program offered by the Ohio Division of Forestry can contact Van Buren by email at [email protected].

Urban Forester Wendi Van Buren, right, works to obtain a soil sample along Hidden Ridge Drive while Sidney Tree Board member Anne Sharp, left, prepares to record the data. The project is part of a homework assignment sophomore students in the Tree Commission Academy must complete prior to their junior semester classes.
http://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/08/web1_TREE.jpgUrban Forester Wendi Van Buren, right, works to obtain a soil sample along Hidden Ridge Drive while Sidney Tree Board member Anne Sharp, left, prepares to record the data. The project is part of a homework assignment sophomore students in the Tree Commission Academy must complete prior to their junior semester classes.

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