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In this bi-monthly Seattlemag.com column, Knute Berger–who writes regularly for Seattle Magazine and Crosscut.com and is a frequent pundit on KUOW–takes an in-depth look at some of the highly topical and sometimes polarizing issues in our city.

I recently went on a guided nature walk at Seward Park. The Audubon Center there conducts regular “owl prowls” where you troop through the park at night looking and listening for owls. It’s a fabulous outing and, for the record, we didn’t see much until the very end when we witnessed a barred owl hunt down and devour a small vole. It was the Discovery Channel—in 3D.

As we walked down one of the darkened trails, our guide talked about the old growth forest in the park. It’s one of the last stands of old growth in the city, estimated at around 120 forest acres. It was never commercially logged in part because its original owner never got around to it. Tall Doug firs are the oldest survivors—some have their trunks blackened by some long-ago fire that they survived. The oldest heritage tree in Seattle is here—a massive Douglas fir estimated, according to our guide, to be 400 years old or more.

For context, that means this tree was growing before the Pilgrims arrived. And it’s still doing its job. It is home to an eagle’s nest. The naturalist told us that the pair of adult eagles who live there successfully raised and launched a couple of offspring this year. It is the type of tree owls like too. They often nest in holes woodpeckers have drilled in old firs and snags, and they love to roost in such trees.

But then he added a footnote. As a designated heritage tree (by Plant Amnesty), a metal plaque was placed below it announcing its significance. Yet the sign attracted damage. Once people knew the tree was considered special, they began climbing up to its base and tromping around, which can damage the roots system. Going off-trail to see the tree up close started to erode the bank where the tree sits. I’m a tree-hugger too, but people have to use some common sense.

The plaque has since been removed, for the protection of the tree.

Places like Seward Park flourish today because they have been embraced by their neighbors. This park was preserved because of the vision of our park planners and citizens more than a century ago. It is supported by local volunteers and donors. Seattle voters just approved a new, long-term sustainable funding model for our entire urban parks system. We care.

Unfortunately, putting a heritage designation on a tree can make it a target for vandalism by folks who might love it to death. The tree is safer, apparently, living with some anonymity. I guess that’s what puts the old in old growth.

We’re a green, nature-loving city—but our village is not free of idiots.