How we turned a tree into a wildlife haven!

Repurposing a tree for wildlife!

We were fortunate enough to work on a really cool project this past summer for a true tree hugger of a client. This client had a large Beech tree (Fagus grandifolia) that had been damaged multiple times through blustery winter storms and howling summer winds. The tree stood proud in her front yard but looked to be on its last leg with all it’s weight leaning over the road. Some interior rot had caused this tree to become a hazard to the homeowner and to everyone that drove underneath.

Here is the tree before hand. There is quite a bit of weight over the road.

When I met with the client, she informed me that she hated to see that tree go and that she wanted to have something to remember the tree by. She wondered if we could carve the stump into a throne that would sit in her front yard that she could sit in to remember the great tree that once stood. This seemed like a good idea but the large decayed section lead us in another direction.

I recommended that we leave a tall stub with some shortened limbs with holes and slots cared into what remained. This is known as a wildlife snag and it gives birds, mammals and insects a place to make their home. This process is time consuming but it allows our client to give this tree a second life as a new habitat. Birds and bats can easily make their nests or homes in the slots and grooves that we created. We were fortunate enough that some plants had already started growing from the first large union the limbs had created. This really added to the look of the snag.

This cavity will make a great home for birds or bats! This entry led into an interior spot of decay.

This bowl can hopefully give squirrels a place to build their nest.

We love working with clients that love their trees! Sometimes we need to remove the tree but at least we can try to make a lasting impression with whats left. If you are interested in turning one of your trees into a wildlife snag, please feel free to contact us and we can come take a look and give you our recommendation. Dead trees will work the best as long as their root system is still structurally sound. Let’s work together to make a difference!

The finished product! This wildlife snag will give numerous animals a new home.