CAMDEN — At their annual luncheon on June 9, Camden Garden Club President Ann Vanosdol, past and present Tree Program chairmen Dale Bruce and Priscilla Granston, and the members of the Club honored retiring Camden Tree Warden, Bart Wood, with a Certificate of Appreciation for his 24 years of service. The award acknowledges the dedication, enthusiasm and boundless energy he has demonstrated for almost a quarter-century.

In the 1970s a statewide tree program was launched encouraging homeowners to plant shade trees on their land within 10 feet of highway boundaries. Homeowners were required to care for and maintain the young trees, and these plantings qualified for state and town financing. The town of Camden embraced the program, as more than 140 Elm trees, blighted by Dutch elm disease, had to be removed during that time. In 1982 the town and the Camden Garden Club agreed to split the cost of new trees equally between the town, the garden club and the homeowner or business.

The program has run successfully ever since and more than 1,000 trees have been planted throughout Camden.

For the past 24 years, in addition to his regular duties as Camden’s tree warden, Bart Wood has been the individual responsible for approving the selected tree varieties, inspecting all proposed planting sites, conferring with Public Works, inspecting every tree before it is planted, attending all tree plantings and re-inspecting all the trees after they have been planted to make sure they are being properly cared for.

Wood has accomplished all of this with little publicity. Where he has not been silent is in his advocacy for the Camden Garden Club and its role as partner with the town in the tree program.

“The club owes him an enormous thank you for a job well done and they have expressed their gratitude by making him a lifetime honorary member,” said Vanosdol in a press release.