Updated 02/01/2012 06:59 PM
Dalton Tree Warden named best in Bay State
Drive through Berkshire County on a September afternoon and chances are you'll pay close attention to the fall foliage. But what many of you leaf peepers may not know is each town employs someone to take care of those trees. They're called Tree Wardens and as our Brandon Walker found out, the best in the Bay State can be found in Dalton.
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DALTON, Mass. -- While the leaves may have fallen off months ago, for Peter Bacon, a leafless canopy by no means suggests his work is on hold for the season.
"So, my job is basically street trees. All on sidewalks, that are on town property," Bacon, a Dalton resident, said.
Call him the Tree Warden.
"Prone to the wind damage, you may have some ice damage," he said as he went over the effects winter could have on trees.
For every downed tree, tree planting and pruning, in space owned by the Town of Dalton, Bacon is your man. He's been so for the past 14 years.
"So they called me up and asked me if I'd be interested and I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into, but I said I would do it," he said.
Since then, the part-timer, whose day job is at a golf course, has learned the ropes.
And while every Massachusetts town has a Tree Warden, apparently, the others simply don't match up.
"I was pretty shocked," he said.
Shocked because as of last December, Peter Bacon is considered the best Tree Warden in the state.
"The award is from the Massachusetts Tree Wardens and Forester Association and it's for tree warden of the year," Bacon said. "I'm pretty honored to receive this trophy, that they would even select me this far out in the state."
That's the thing about Mr. Bacon. If you ask him, the award has very little to do with the work he's done and everything to do with a town that thinks having a tree warden is a priority.
"Trees are a big benefit to the community," Bacon said.
Also a benefit to the man who looks after them.
"A good tree warden is someone who cares about the trees," he continued.