Removal of Bradford Pears Underway in Town Center

Nineteen flowering Bradford pear trees along Main Street will fall to the axe starting today. For the short time they’re in bloom each spring, they lent a picture postcard quality to the town, but time and recent storms have taken their toll on them. The process began this morning. Here is the scene at Main and Ivy.

The trees are considered invasive and have only a 20- to 30-year life expectancy. They are quick growing and the limbs become more susceptible to breaking as they age. They were planted in the early 1990s as part of First Selectwoman Judy Gott’s Town Center Revitalization project.

Signs were affixed to the trees on April 11 indicating their removal in 10 days or more from the posting. Any questions regarding the removal were to be directed to Tree Warden Diana Ross.

Work got underway today at 6 a.m.

Trees will be removed starting at the corner of Ivy Street and Main, along Main up to Harrison Avenue. They’re in front of businesses such as Lockworks Square, North Light Gallery, Common Grounds, SoundRunner, and Epic.

A group of citizens have expressed concern over the removal citing the environmental benefit of shading the businesses and saving on energy costs. Another concern is the time of year, spring, when birds have built nests.

Laura Green, a resident, has contacted First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove and Ross requesting a public hearing. She was told it would be ​“a waste of time.” She believes there has been a lack of transparency in dealing with the issue and that people have not been made aware of the long-range plan. Is Green involved in any town board or commission?

Green acknowledges that the trees have become a nuisance and should have to come down, but she objects to them all being taken down at once. She believes that a phased-in removal of the trees would lessen the aesthetic and environmental impact and existing trees would ensure shade if the new ones failed to thrive.

She also cited the Migratory Bird Act, which prohibits cutting down trees with bird nests during nesting season.

According to Trista Milici, executive assistant to Cosgrove, ​“The trees have become a hazard and a liability due to their age. Many of these trees have already lost large limbs while others are in danger of losing limbs. All of the trees have been property posted and great consideration was given during the evaluation process to keep as many as possible. Replacement of the 19 trees will take place in approximately 3 weeks and additional trees will be planted in the fall.

“The removal and replacement of these trees has been a long range project involving grants, several boards and commissions, Tree Warden and other professionals including a landscape architect.”

A Plan Is In Place

According to Shirley McCarthy, a member of the Branford Community Forest Commission, the Bradford pears will be replaced by ​“a diverse range of trees that will benefit our New England ecosystem and the appearance of our ​‘New England’ Green.” The majority of the replacements are native, except for a few crabapples, which can survive a ​“stressful” spot.

Species include swamp white oak, Black Gum, American hophornbeam, Pagoda Dogwood, American Beech, Yoshino Cherry, White Spruce, and Red Maple.

A detailed spreadsheet, obtained by The Eagle, lists the designated location of each tree. For instance, a swamp white oak will be planted in front of InFocus. And, crabapples will go in front of Pinky Nail and Epic Salon.

A crabapple will go in front of SoundRunner.

An American hophornbeam will be planted in front of North Light Gallery.

A swamp white oak will be planted in front of Raveis Realty.

A crabapple will replace the Bradford pear at Main and Ivy. (See top photo)

A total of 33 new trees will be planted, along with 20 shrubs in the rain garden at Fire Headquarters.

McCarthy offered the assurance that ​“if there happens to be a bird nest in any tree in Branford that is slated for cutting, our tree warden, if notified, will postpone its cutting until the babies have left the nest.”

Funding for the project has come from the Tree Warden’s budget, plus grants and donations.

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