The trees of the Stanford area are being deliberately poisoned.
This has been confirmed by the Overstrand Municipality, which carried out a site inspection after a resident of the area expressed concern that the trees showed signs of dying.
“There are definite drilled holes in all sides of the trees,” Municipal Manager Dean O’Neill said. “The poisoned Casuarina cunninghamiana (Beefwood), Corymbia ficifolia (Flowering gum) and Schinus mole (Pink Pepper) trees were planted on municipal land in Kortmark Street a decade ago. The trees have a bad reputation because they are classified as ‘alien invasives’, but it is still illegal to kill trees on municipal land and they should not be unnecessarily removed.”
This is not the first time this has occurred in Stanford. A few years ago the Parks Department was called out to investigate dying trees in Lower Longmarket Street.
According to O’Neill, trees serve many purposes in neighbourhoods and are vitally important – not only for our immediate well-being but for future generations as well. Other benefits trees provide for people and the environment are cleaning the air of pollutants, providing oxygen, absorbing CO², reducing traffic noise, providing refuge for birds and other wild creatures, improving soil quality, and providing tranquil places to relax and enjoy.
“Although the motivation behind the poisoning of trees is open to speculation, there are various motives for poisoning trees, such as leaves and seed capsules falling on private properties, trees blocking views or branches hanging on power cables and/or telephone lines. This is very concerning, and we would like to ask anyone who has information on why and who is poisoning the trees of Stanford to contact us.”
Contact Charl Cornelius, principal administrative officer in Stanford, on 028 341 8517 or at ccornelius@overstrand.gov.za, or horticulturist Lauren Rainbird on 028 313 8972 or at lrainbird@overstrand.gov.za