The Sehome Hill tower view restoration is a great idea, but does not go far enough. All of Sehome Hill Arboretum needs a haircut.

An observation tower without a view is of course pointless. The proposed trim will restore much but not all of the view that was present when originally built. Why not go all the way?

And why pick on red alders and big leaf maples, that lose their leaves in winter anyway, while sparing the evergreen Douglas firs that set the whole park in year-round gloom?

Douglas firs are not climax trees here -- western hemlocks are. While awaiting recovery from the original clearcut, we suffer a near monoculture of Douglas fir, which is unfortunate for several reasons:

1) It is gloomy, dark even in bright summer daylight;

2) It is monotonous, the opposite of what an arboretum is supposed to be. An arboretum is for people to enjoy a great variety of trees, with at least reasonable amounts of sunlight. By definition, it is a managed forest;

3) Although there is some wildlife skulking in the deep shadows, the park is a relative desert. Wildlife prefers diversity, not monoculture; alternations of forest and glade, trees, shrubs, and grasses, shadow and light.

The park needs selective culling to boost light levels and biological diversity, and make it what it is supposed to be: an arboretum!

Otherwise rename it. Sehome Hill Douglas Fir Reserve, anyone?

Andrew Reding

Bellingham