Photo courtesy of Southern Living
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) Fayetteville urban foresters are encouraging city residents to chop down invasive Bradford pear trees from their properties and swap them with native ones.
Bradford pears, also known as the Callery pear, gained popularity because they are small- to medium-sized trees that can be effortlessly clipped.
The Northwest Arkansas-Democrat Gazette reports that Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association chairwoman Jennifer Ogle says Bradfords take over an area and don’t create a useful habitat for wildlife or vegetation. Ogle noted the trees don’t grow edible pears.
Residents are first required to take a picture of the dead tree and submit it to the city’s urban foresters. They will then be eligible to obtain a free tree.
Urban forester John Scott says the idea came from the Urban Forestry Advisory Board, a local city panel.
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