Dear Editor,
Over the past few weeks, when snow and ice were blanketing most of the ground, I noticed that beneath trees, the ice and snow melted faster, sometimes even leaving the sidewalks bare and dry.
This is because the ground beneath trees is warmer. I have a deciduous tree in my front yard and my sidewalk was easy to keep clear.
My neighbour, who last year cut down two mature evergreens, had so much ice on his sidewalk that he couldn’t shovel it until after the weather warmed up a few days ago.
The treeless backyard of another neighbour is still beneath thick snow while mine, ringed by trees, has only a few flecks here and there.
After the next snowfall, walk around your neighbourhood and observe the phenomenon for yourself.
Sabine Eiche
Richmond
