To the Editor:

This is a perfect time of year to plant trees or to transplant trees and bushes while their branches and roots are dormant.

Wooded areas play an important part as buffer zones between different habitats. These riparian corridors are particularly important adjacent to lakes, streams, and rivers, but they have become increasingly important buffers between developed areas and natural environments.

The trees and plant life in these areas help purify water from parking lots, monoculture lawns, and fertilized gardens before it reaches nearby ponds and streams.

These natural strips provide pathways for mammals and reptiles so that they may move from area to area.

Salamanders, snakes, and many birds thrive in these small natural oasis.

Trees, shrubs, and herbs make it nicer for our drinking water and everybody else.

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia Barkman, PhD

49 Taunton Lake Road, Newtown         November 6, 2018