ItB次元官网网址檚 the busiest time of the year for a Metchosin-based tree services company, as the scrutiny on tree-cutting operations surges.

Ryan Smith, owner of Ocean West Tree Services, said theyB次元官网网址檝e faced some protesters at multiple job sites, including at the pagoda house job B次元官网网址� which is slated for demolition despite a contingent of residents crying for it to be preserved B次元官网网址� although heB次元官网网址檚 not had any bad interactions.

B次元官网网址淥ne minute theyB次元官网网址檒l come over superheated,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hen a couple of minutes later, weB次元官网网址檝e talked to them, and then usually, theyB次元官网网址檙e asking for firewood. WeB次元官网网址檝e given away four or five truckloads from this job. ItB次元官网网址檚 a small price to pay for us, we just like to make sure everyoneB次元官网网址檚 happy if anyone has concerns.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE: LangfordB次元官网网址檚 pagoda house slated for demolition

A lot of the work the company does is on residential properties or with the Capital Regional DistrictB次元官网网址檚 fire smart program. Smith said theyB次元官网网址檙e fully booked for the next year, with things set to be particularly busy for the next few weeks as a number of projects in Langford look to complete work before a tree protection bylaw potentially comes before council.

But amid that rush, Smith has been pushing to ensure the wood from trees that come down stays local. Some of the trees from the pagoda house project, for instance, are set to be turned into furniture.

B次元官网网址淚 personally love trees. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why we try and salvage the wood,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t takes a little longer. But like, weB次元官网网址檝e been doing this for years, and now we have enough contacts, weB次元官网网址檙e able to call up and have found the wood a permanent home within minutes.

LangfordB次元官网网址檚 new council is set to be a stark departure from the previous one, with slowing down development top of the agenda, with new Mayor Scott Goodmanson saying a tree protection bylaw was one of his priorities coming into the role.

Prior to this, trees have mainly been protected through the development permit process. Langford director of planning Matthew Baldwin told Black Press Media in a previous interview that the policies have historically resulted in up to 40 per cent being reserved for green space.

READ MORE: Work begins for Langford mayor-elect Scott Goodmanson