Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor | Stop removing native plants
Driving to the YMCA today I was shocked to see the the native shrubs and trees along the western verge of the road and across from Swift Water Elementary School being removed. Here were native plantings, already in place, requiring no expensive irrigation system or additional water, being ripped out to be replaced (no doubt) by non natives that don’t support our wildlife.
Where is the logic in this decision??
What thought processes came to the conclusion that this needed to be done?
From who’s pockets is the money coming?
Have you not heard of Homegrown National Park? (https://homegrownnationalpark.org/)
This is an organization that promotes the planting of natives in our yards in order to support biodiversity, remove invasives, conserve water and support our native wildlife which is rapidly disappearing from our Earth.
Well, it is too late now for this small verge of road – unless you were to replant with native shrubs and trees and support them with water until they could reestablish.
But perhaps in all future decisions someone might put a bit more thought and consideration into the impact of what they are about to do in order to reduce such needless destruction and to consider ways in which we can support our native wildlife and our Earth’s biodiversity.
Melissa Sherwood
Gig Harbor