In 2002, a storm brought down the long-lived and much-loved Wye Oak. At the time that it fell, it had a 31-foot circumference, was 79 feet tall, and had a spread of 102 feet. Such value was placed on this tree that, even after its untimely demise, no one was quite willing to let it go. The timber was used to create mementos of the legendary oak, even a 300-pound desk for the governor of Maryland. The pavilion, which will be built a mere 30 yards from the site of the original tree in the Wye Oak State park, will include a history of the fallen tree. In another display, visitors will be able to see a cross-section of the enormous tree. The new pavilion and displays will serve as a memorial to the celebrated tree, as well as a way for those who never saw it to understand the attachment that so many have to it.

Unfortunately, a developer looking to build shops, offices, and 600 new multi-family housing units on Johns Island has petitioned to remove the Angel Oak and 33 other grand trees. Though the trees are protected, the developers have asked for variance, claiming that the trees cause them “hardship.” The massive new development would be ironically named Angel Oak Village. Outraged at the loss the Angel Oak and other such trees, residents of Johns Island have banded together to petition the Board of Zoning not to allow the developers to cut down the historic tree. Thus far, they have collected over 500 signatures. Their efforts have postponed the meeting, but the future of the Angel Oak is not yet assured. Visit www. savetheangeloak.com to learn more or sign the petition.

The lesson plans include creative activities and hands-on projects, as well as suggestions for further activities to continue the experience beyond the range of the classroom. It also includes a guide to fundraising, so that those children who have learned why the world needs more trees can become actively involved in making it happen. Donations of any size to American Forests’ Global ReLeaf program will be rewarded with a certificate of participation for the entire class, and the opportunity to earn a Historic Moon Sycamore tree for the class to plant and care for. The Tree for Every Child curriculum is now also supplemented by a variety of activities to be found on the American Forests website. This new education website will contain content for both educators and students, as well as links to the Treetures website for our youngest students, and to the CITYGreen program, for our older crowd.

And yet on July 29, a few days after going to his supervisors with the concern that the other city arborists were purposely overlooking violations, Coffin got the axe. According to the Associated Press, the Department of Planning and Community Development issued a statement citing Coffin’s dismissal as a “personnel matter”, but a letter from Coffin to city officials describes the context of his firing as directly following an endeavor to point out what he explained as “the near total abdication of enforcement of the tree protection ordinance by my colleagues.” Developers in the area may have given a temporary sigh of relief at the removal of such a strict environmental protector, but the outcry over Coffin’s dismissal continues to grow. Environmental groups throughout the city have been especially outspoken over this blatant injustice. American Forests analysis of the average tree canopy in Atlanta showed a 42% decline between 1974 and 1996. It is possible that Coffin will be unable to fight his dismissal, especially given the power of developers in urban Atlanta. However, he has succeeded in bringing to light an important oversight. One that, if intentional, could be considered clear corruption of the city’s values.