r/Pembroke

Keywords: real estate, trees, value, rural prerogative to cut them down,

This photograph was taken at the corner of Division and Round Lake Roads in Round Lake Center. An elderly man wielding a chainsaw arrived in a dilapidated pickup truck and commenced cutting down the mature white pine surrounding this home.

It is a fact that trees increase a property's real- estate value. In suburban Canada homeowners expend considerable effort, time and money attempting to grow ornamental, shade and privacy trees around their properties. Not only does it substantially improve the appearance of their home, but it can regulate ambient temperature, assist in masking noise and the sight of surrounding buildings and roads.

Conversely, in parts of rural Canada, especially the more impoverished regions, property owners spend a comparable amount of effort removing the trees surrounding their homes.

The mature white pine surrounding this bungalow enhanced not only its appearance but resale value several fold. Realtors are equally frustrated by property owners who fail to realize that trees are a ticket to a prompt sale and frequently increase the possibility of achieving the property's full asking price. The majority of discerning purchasers place a premium on the presence of trees surrounding a home.

This scenario plays itself frequently with homeowners cutting trees adjacent to or in proximity to their homes. The reasons can be multifactorial. Most reasons are unjustified and unfounded.

In my previous jurisdiction I was hired as a arborist by homeowners to provide justification for trees they wanted removed. This was a requirement to apply and receive a tree cutting permit.

Here are a few unjustifiable reasons I encountered:

I am tired of raking pine needles or acorns. The walnuts are killing my petunias. The leaves are falling into my swimming pool. I am concerned a branch will fall on my shed. The tree may come down in a storm. The poplar branches may drop on my children.The tree is blocking sunlight from my garden. The tree's roots are damaging my foundation. I cannot get the grass to grow because of the shade. I want an increased breeze to reduce the mosquitoes. The pine gum is dropping on my car.

Needless to say, these people did not receive my blessing to obtain a tree cutting permit.

Many rural residents, especially the elderly take their surroundings for granted. But in a rapidly changing world those who have lived in, or on the outskirts of encroaching cities realize the value of trees and appreciate far more the aesthetics and functions they provide to their properties and by extension the undeniable enrichment to their lives.

How can we convince rural citizens that something they perceive as omnipresent and expendable is really a valuable contribution, not only to their property but the whole community?

Did anyone approach and encourage this elderly gentleman to leave his beautiful white pine trees alone? The identical scenario transpired three months earlier along Turner's Road where some elderly men cut the pine trees in front of their properties.

Is it time to enact a tree cutting by- law? This has become a necessity in many other jurisdictions to protect the value of communities from indiscriminate landowners who get a buzz from fueling up and yanking the rip-cord of a chainsaw.

ND. (There is no evidence that the trees in this example represented a threat to hydro lines).

Photo by the author: May 12th 2026 Round Lake Center.