Support to save historic Milton pecan tree continues despite construction plans

Salisbury, Md. – Despite a petition that garnered over 1,100 signatures, a beloved pecan tree in Milton, Del. is still slated to come down in construction for a Royal Farms.

Kevin Fleming, a photographer and Milton resident, created the petition last month in the hopes of preserving the tree.

“I was hoping for 500 [signatures]. We got that in like three days,” he said. “So, people care about this tree.”

He said that he understands other trees in the area have to come down but wishes to preserve this particular tree and said that members of the local community do too. After the petition gained traction, community members led by Fleming held a protest with over 40 attendees to save the tree on Saturday, November 22.

“It’s preserving history,” he said. “That tree was there when Teddy Roosevelt was alive.”

The tree, on the corner of State Route 16 and Union Street Extension, measures over 100 feet tall. The Southern Pecan Tree is the tallest of its kind, according to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Royal Farms has said that it will preserve the tree’s trunk and donate it to the Milton Historical Society and plant three new pecan trees. However, Fleming has said that solution isn’t good enough for him.

“We just want to save one tree. I don’t think that’s too hard or too much to ask for,” he said. “It can survive if Royal Farms will allow it to.”

There is still no specific date for the tree to be taken down, but Fleming has said that he has sent the petition to the Delaware governor and Royal Farm’s CEO. He said he is optimistic that support for the tree will get noticed by Royal Farms.

“I intend to make this a public relations nightmare for Royal Farms,” he said.

WMDT reached out to Royal Farms but did not receive a statement in time for publication.