Give Away Saturday, May 7th 2011

We had our second give away of the season on Saturday, May 7th. It was at Tower Hill Botanical Garden in Boylston. We gave away 45 trees and have since found homes for the ones left behind. It was great to see familiar faces come back for more trees, they promised the ones they had already planted were still alive, but also new faces. Teachers from Boylston Elementary School, residents from Boylston, Holden, Worcester, and the rest of the quarantine zone. We planted three trees at Tower Hill. Everything managed to get done just before the thunderstorm rolled in.

Flowering Plum and Cherry

Quiava and others loading the truck for a delivery

Jeff leading a tree planting demonstration

Nick helping someone bring their tree to their truck.

Thanks to Sammi for these great photos!!!

98 Square Miles

As of May 9th Auburn has now been added to the towns infested with the ALB. Three trees were discovered by Holy Cross to be infested, but due to regulations 4 miles had to be added. No trees have been found in the town.

Next Quarantine Map

Press Release

Trees are being planted at a rapid pace! The Youth Forestry this week was able to place 1,000 water gators onto trees throughout the city. This morning they planted 13 trees at Odd Fellows Home in Worcester.

Today Ruth and I did a site visit at Worcester Academy where we will be planting trees on campus and by their athletic fields on Monday, May 23rd. Next Giveaway Saturday, May 21st 10-12 at St. Peter Marion.

Tree Planting Like Crazy

Friday, April 29th we held our Arbor Day event in University/Crystal Park. Some of the people in attendance were Congressmen Jim McGovern, Mayor Joe O'Brien, City Manager Michale O'Brien, and Clark University's President David Angel were all on hand. We planted a memorial tree, with the help of Clark Trustees and UPCS students, in honor of Dick and Polly Traina. We also gave away 50 trees that will be planted throughout Main South.

Tuesday May 3rd and Wednesday May 4th Ruth and I spent two full days planting at Boylston Elementary School. The two days started off as I lead an all school assembly in front of the entire school. I talked to the students about trees and the Asian Longhorned Beetle. There was then time for them to ask questions. After each grade came out and helped to plant trees. The highlight was Wednesday morning as I was digging holes for that days plantings I heard a student jump out of his car and say "Look mom thats the tree I planted yesterday!!". All of the student received information to bring home about the Asian Longhorned Beetle.

Saturday May 7th we held a giveaway at Tower Hill. We managed to giveaway over 40 trees with many more being ordered for our next giveaway at St. Peter Marion on May 21st. People continue to want trees!!!

Today we planted 5 trees at the Nativity School of Worcester with the 5th grade. The boys had tons of questions and their favorite part was playing in the mud pushing all of the air pockets out of the soil. We had 20 boys in dress shoes, ties and white shirts planting trees, lets just say their Mother's are going to hate me. One of the students asked "who's tree is this?" I told him it was everyone's tree and he was very excited to help take care of it.

More trees to come: May 21st giveaway, School planting at Worcester Academy May 23rd.

Train the Trainer

Last night at the Mass Audubon we held our Spring train the trainer event. We trained 5 new trainers last night, bring our total number of trained trainers up to 20. We planted an apple tree. Two of the DCR foresters led the training.

Reminder tomorrow is Arbor Day, join Congressmen Jim McGovern at event from 10-2 at Crystal Park. The City of Worcester Forestry will be announcing there 150 street tree planting throughout Main South. We will be having giveaways and a memorial tree planting.

Youth Forestry

The youth forestry has been getting out and about Worcester this week. They planted their first trees, watched trees get cut down and talked with Foresters from the USDA and the DCR.

Spring has Sprung!!!

With the snow finally melted, planting season will officially begin Friday April 29th at Crystal Park. City of Worcester Forestery will be on hand to announce the 150 street tree planting which will happen throughout Main South. A memorial tree will be planted to honor Dick and Polly Traina. There will also be tree giveaways throughout the day. The event starts at 10 and will go until 2pm.

Last Wednesday was our "thank you funders" event which was a total success. The event was held at the Greenhill Park Club House, which was beautiful despite the rain. The goals for this spring we laid out.

WTI on NESN

Other things to be looking forward too is schools week (the last week of April), Boylston Elementary School 2 day planting and CSX planting day at Dodge Park on June 11th. We have more than 20 events scheduled for this upcoming season.

Trees in the news!

Our arbor day event in Main South: http://http://www.telegram.com/article/20110310/NEWS/103100768/-1/NEWS07

http://www.necn.com/03/10/11/Latest-Massachusetts-news-sports-busines/landing_politics.html?&blockID=3&apID=dc6615e8488d466586463d515843bfdb

Looking for a job?

Worcester Youth Center and the Worcester Tree Initiative received a new grant to hire ten youth to work with the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Please check out this great job opportunity for youth ages 18-24!

Rain Gardens Prevent Stormwater Flooding & Pollution

Inviation from Mayor Joe O'Brien

Rain Garden Prevent Stormwater Flooding and Pollution

Monday February 28th, 6:00, Worcester Youth Center

Dear Friends,
I just wanted to let you know about a meeting I am hosting on a new initiative to manage stormwater in the city through the use of Rain Gardens. The meeting will take place at the Worcester Youth Center at 326 Chandler St on Monday, February 28th from 6pm to 8pm.

A Rain Garden is a small natural area that helps to cleanse stormwater before it flows into brooks and ponds. Rain Gardens, also called bio-retention areas, allow stormwater from impervious surfaces, such as streets and driveways, to soak into the ground. The plants and soild in the Rain Garden remove pollution from the stormwater and keep streams healthy. This meeting is a coordination between the Worcester DPW&P, Mass Audubon, Columbus Park Neighborhood Association, the Regional Environmental Council, Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center, the Worcester Tree Initiative and the Greater Worcester Land Trust among others.

I hope you will join me for this informational meeting.
~ Joe O'Brien

Winter Hybernation is Over!!

During this winter of snow, snow and just for a little variety a little more snow WTI has been hard at work. We have moved our office from Mechanic St to 250 Barber Ave. We are in the same building as the USDA and the DCR. We have a new phone number: 508-852-6400. We are expanding out of Worcester further into the quarantine zone, we plan on planting in Boylston, Shrewsbury and Holden. A draft of the Spring Calendar of Events in posted below.

This summer we will begin our youth forestry program, Branching Out. We will be sending eight youth into the community to maintain and care for WTI trees, along with learning important job skills.

Our data collection is being organized, and by spring we hope to have a complete database of all the trees we have planted and a system to collect information about all of the trees we have planted along with future plantings. This will help as we continue to support our goal of expanding the urban forest with the hopes that our trees will survive for 80 years.

Our goal for this upcoming spring is to plant 600 trees!!!

Spring 2011 Calendar of Events

Wednesday April 13th: Thank You Sponsor Party at Green Hill Park Country Club
April 25th-April 28th: Worcester School Planting Week with Worcester City Forestry Department
Wednesday April 27th: Trian the Trainer
Friday April 29th: Arbor Day Event at University Park
Saturday April 30th: CSX Planting
Tuesday May 3rd: Boylston School Planting Event
Saturday May 7th: Tower Hill Botanical Garden Give Away
Thursday May 12th: Commerce Bank Planting
Thursday May 12th: Tree Give Away in Holden
Saturday May 21st: Tree Give Away Event at St. Peter Marion School
Thursday May 26th: Tree Give Away
Sunday June 5th: Tree Give Away Event at Worcester State University
Wednesday June 8th: Volunteer Planting Day
Thursday June 23rd: Volunteer Thank You Cook Out