10
THE DAVEY BULLETIN
|
May/June 2020
STEWARDSHIP
Davey's Charlotte Residential/
Commercial (R/C) office spent a day
removing hazard trees from Shining
Hope Farms, a non-profit organization
that provides equine assisted activities
and therapies for children and adults.
The hazard trees removed were
decaying and were leaning over
horseback riding trails, said Matt
Betz, assistant district manager. They
also removed trees from the horse
pastures on the property that posed a
threat to the fence lines or the horses.
The Charlotte office has worked with
Shining Hope Farms for a number of years
by delivering free woodchips and assisting
with other emergency tree work.
Photo Credit: Milinda Kirkpatrick, executive
director, Shining Hope Farms
A Davey Resource Group (DRG) partnership with ReLeaf
Michigan, a non-profit tree organization, led to 75 trees
being planted in a newly constructed park that was once
a golf course in Hudsonville, Michigan.
In 2018, ReLeaf Michigan, the Michigan department of
Natural Resources, the Lower Grand River Organization of
Watersheds, an agency of the Grand Valley Metro Council,
and DRG received a USDA Forest Service Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative grant.
This project is designed to help small Michigan communities
tackle future tree plantings. Through the grant, DRG provides
GIS services, maps and reports that help local communities
understand their canopy cover and where trees can be
planted to provide the most benefits.
"In this way, the community doesn't only get our report and
mapping tools, they also get first-hand knowledge on how
it might be used," said Lee Mueller, market manager, DRG.
ReLeaf Michigan works with local communities, using
the data DRG produces, to coordinate planting efforts
with volunteers.
Volunteers plant trees in early 2020 at a newly constructed park that
was once a golf course. The trees will line a future path in the park.
Photo Credit: ReLeaf Michigan
DRG PROVIDED DATA FOR
PARK PLANTING
HAZARD TREE REMOVALS AT
THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER
Through his consultation, Betz pointed
out trees for removal that were not
initially considered for removal. He also
identified trees on the removal list that
weren't problematic, which allowed
the client to reallocate their funding to
the true hazard trees.
"They heeded my advice," Betz said.
"I wanted to protect their interests
and their money. I was able to go in,
show them the potential hazards
they had and provided them with
knowledge that paid off in the end."
