Local government / Bellingham
Invasive tree removal starting next week at Sehome Arboretum
Arboretum Drive and adjacent trails will close Nov. 2–5 and 9–12 while City Urban Forestry and Washington Conservation Corps crews remove a 1‑acre patch of invasive Siberian elms. These non‑native trees spread aggressively, outcompete native plants, and threaten the Arboretum’s ecological health. Removing the mature patch now will prevent thousands of new seedlings next spring and help protect local biodiversity.
City of Bellingham news reported the following in its 2026-10-29 newsletter. This article covers the “Invasive tree removal starting next week at Sehome Arboretum” section.
Arboretum Drive and adjacent trails will close Nov. 2–5 and 9–12 while City Urban Forestry and Washington Conservation Corps crews remove a 1‑acre patch of invasive Siberian elms. These non‑native trees spread aggressively, outcompete native plants, and threaten the Arboretum’s ecological health. Removing the mature patch now will prevent thousands of new seedlings next spring and help protect local biodiversity.
After removal, crews and volunteers will begin site restoration. Over the next few seasons, they will continue clearing English ivy and plant native trees, shrubs, and pollinator species to support long‑term forest recovery. Thank you for your patience while we care for the Arboretum!
Read the public source
City of Bellingham news →Source publication: Oct 29, 2026
Source checked: Nov 1, 2026
Brief prepared: Oct 29, 2026
Automatically prepared from the linked public source. Source-digest highlights are quoted excerpts, not independent reporting. Dates and claims remain those of the source.