Letter to the Editor: Supports preservation of forested buffers in New Kent

I write in support of a recent letter in the Chronicle advocating for the preservation of forested buffers on New Kent County roads.

Once the mature trees are gone, they’re gone for good. New Kent is still fortunate to have extensive stretches of woodland that provide scenic beauty, reduced noise, and preserve the rural character that drew so many of us to live here. But that character is slowly eroding, one clear-cut roadside lot at a time.

Now is the time, while we still have forested corridors, to put safeguards in place. The board of supervisors and planning commission should work swiftly to incorporate meaningful buffer requirements into county regulations before more roadside woods are removed. We have an opportunity and a responsibility to act while preservation is still possible.

Let’s not wait until we’re left with only memories of what once stood along our roadsides. I urge our citizens and local leaders to take this cause and protect what remains of New Kent’s natural beauty. Let us stan tall like the tulip poplar and speak for posterity about the eternal beauty of the woodlands.

Lucia Lucas
Providence Forge