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Society can show it cares by placing value on our trees

In Terrence Malick's 2011 award-winning movie Tree of Life, the real stars are the giant oak trees that surround the O'Brien family's neighbourhood in Waco, Texas.

In Terrence Malick's 2011 award-winning movie Tree of Life, the real stars are the giant oak trees that surround the O'Brien family's neighbourhood in Waco, Texas. Grey and gloomy during despair and brilliantly sunlit during happy days, they are a metaphor for life.

Malick asks would we choose between acceptance or nature when we are under stress. Here in South Delta, our trees are under stress and as advocates for those trees, we also have to choose.

What gives our public and private places meaning? Trees, whether it's the giant tree decorated for Christmas in Ladner Village or the 30-year-old yew tree that graces our front yard that attracts compliments from passersby.

That darn yew tree means we can't build a garage unless we chop it down. With no basement or place to store our stuff, we need a garage, but there was no debate, we chose the tree.

My neighbour, who is a Vancouver police officer, is convinced our trees are under siege by development. She can't bear the thought of waking up yet another morning to the sound of chainsaws slowly dismantling old and new growth trees in our neighbourhoods.

Tree removal trucks are a common sight in South Delta and my neighbour points to a house that lost eight old growth trees in one day. "How is that possible?" she asks.

But there's hope on the municipal side. We'll see more trees planted over the next five years as the Corporation of Delta fulfills a mandate to plant 5,000 trees, increasing our urban forest and providing a natural pollution reducer.

Then there's the Trees for Tomorrow campaign that offers you two free trees to be planted on municipal property that surrounds your home. Maples, chestnut, dogwood and magnolia are just some of the incredible varieties up for grabs. Fill out a simple application and promise to water them, and you'll have a carbon

dioxide sucking machine that can increase your property value and prevent crime.

Be tree aware and report anyone you think is defying Delta's tree protection bylaws as the municipality will investigate. Trees get stressed out just like us. They need good soil, water, space to breath and protection from predators.

This has been a beautiful spring with trees blossoming to perfection. Most have leaves now that will shelter us from the sun and wind and provide homes for our birds. So newcomers and locals, plan your garden around trees, make a commitment to care for them, plant trees and work with experts to incorporate designs that maintain our natural environment if your home is up for redevelopment.

How we react to change tells us a lot about ourselves, including what we value and what we are willing to sacrifice. I don't choose acceptance, I choose nature and the protection of it under stress.

Like the Buddha who attained enlightenment while sitting under the Bodhi tree, we can only hope others will see the light through the trees too.

Ingrid Abbott is a freelance writer who loves to look at trees and enjoys them year round, despite having to clean up after them.