The following was submitted to the Glenside Local by Ed Stevenson for the Abington Shade Tree Commission:

If you’ve ever driven through an unfamiliar neighborhood and thought, “I’d love to live here,” there’s a good chance that mature trees had something to do with it.

Wide tree canopies arching over the street. Mature oaks shading front yards. Maples that turn brilliant colors each fall. Even before we notice the houses, we often notice how a neighborhood feels.

It’s hard to put that feeling into words, but most of us recognize it immediately. Some neighborhoods simply invite us to slow down, look around, and imagine living there. For decades, researchers have found that mature trees make neighborhoods more attractive, more walkable, and more desirable. Home buyers consistently say they value tree-lined streets, and studies have shown that well-maintained trees can increase residential property values.

In other words, the things that make a neighborhood feel special often become the very things that make it more valuable.

“Our house was built in the 1920s and a neighbor had a photo of it when it was first built”, said Jennifer Hood, Abington resident and co-owner of Xcentric Hair Studio in Roslyn. “It looks odd to me now because there were hardly any trees on the property. Over the years, people who owned the home planted plenty of trees. And we are thankful they did. It was one of the things that drew us to this house when we bought it and we’ve done our best to maintain the feel.”

The value of a mature tree extends well beyond the property where it grows. A tree planted decades ago may shade a neighbor’s sidewalk, cool the street, provide habitat for birds, and make an entire block feel more welcoming. That’s how a single tree becomes part of a neighborhood’s character.

The neighborhoods we love aren’t built in a day. They grow over decades. That’s one reason mature trees are so valuable. They provide a level of shade, beauty, and character that simply can’t be replaced overnight.

The most valuable part of a mature tree isn’t the wood. It’s the years.

The next time you walk through one of Abington’s tree-filled neighborhoods, imagine what it looked like decades ago when many of those trees were just beginning to grow.

Someone planted them.

Today, those trees help create the feeling that makes people slow down, look around, and simply think, “I love living here.”

Under the Canopy is a periodic column from the Abington Shade Tree Commission exploring the many ways trees quietly shape life in our community. To learn more about the Commission, volunteer, or subscribe to its newsletter, email stc@abingtonpa.gov, visit www.abingtonpa.gov/192/Shade-Tree-Commission, or follow Abington Trees on Facebook.

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Photos: Ed Stevenson