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ELKINS – The Elkins Tree Board will be replacing several invasive trees at Riverbend Park with native alternatives, officials announced.
The Elkins Tree Board will be using funding from a West Virginia Division of Forestry Demonstration City grant to replace several invasive trees at Riverbend Park with trees that are native to the area, according to a press release from the Elkins Tree Board. The invasive trees in question are known as the Bradford pear, or the Callery pear.
The Bradford pear originated in China and is planted as an “ornamental tree” throughout the United States, the release states. The trees’ seeds are easily spread by birds who eat the fruit the tree produces. Once the seed is planted, the tree can quickly grow and take over an area, shading out native plants and degrading wildlife habitats. Bradford pears are also very prone to breaking branches, and their flowers produce a smell that’s been compared to a "rotten fish." Because of these negative attributes, this species of tree is considered invasive in several states, including West Virginia.
“Given these reasons, the Elkins Tree Board, with support of the Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission, believes it is in the community's best interest to remove these trees and replace them with two species native to West Virginia, serviceberry and American linden, also known as basswood,” the press release states.
Serviceberry trees, according to the release, are small trees with “beautiful early-blooming white flowers.” These trees produce a red-purple fruit that is said to be loved by native wildlife. Meanwhile, the American basswood is a medium sized tree that provides great shade and supports many pollinators as its flowers produce a lot of nectar.
"Removing invasive species like Callery Pear and replacing them with native species like serviceberry and basswood is a great way to prevent the spread of invasive species into natural areas and provide food, cover, and nesting opportunities for wildlife,” Michelle Fonda, the Non-Native Invasive Species Program Lead for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, said in the release. “Basswood and serviceberry support pollinators like mourning cloak, red-spotted purple and tiger swallowtail butterflies as both caterpillars and adults. Native fruiting trees like serviceberry benefit songbirds by providing a place to nest with lots of nutritious food (fruits and caterpillars) close by. Using native species in landscaping helps make our cities more friendly to wildlife."
The Demonstration City grant, according to the release, covers the replacement of six Bradford pears at Riverbend Park, however there will still be several other Bradford pears remaining. The Board says they hope to use future grants to replace the rest of the Bradford pears with other native species that will “provide shade, support the local wildlife and beautify our community.”
The Demonstration Community grant also funded the removal of several hazardous trees in Elkins City Park this fall, the release states. This past year, the Elkins Tree Board planted several new trees in anticipation of this removal project.
For more information about the Elkins Tree Board, visit cityofelkinswv.gov/city-government/boards-commissions/tree-board/.