Public Shade Tree Committee

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"Trees are the best monuments that man can erect to his own memory. They speak his praises without flattery, & they are blessings to children yet unborn."



-- Lord Orrery, 1749 
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June, 2013 Tree Planting at Stanley Street with residents and 4-H Robotics Club Boys
Source: Tom Lynn, ex-officio Shade Tree Committee Member

2nd Saturday Plantings


2021 Locations:
April 10: Downtown 
May 8: The Brook Condominiums
June 12: Glendale Road
July 10: Work Party behind Atkin Farms Store
August 14: Work Party, location TBA
September 11: Planting location TBA


2020 Plantings:
September 12: E. Hadley Road.
October 10: Lincoln Avenue
December 14: Farview Way

9 AM-Noon. Bring your friends, and a shovel if you have one.  Wear a mask.  Look for the yellow town truck.


Mission


The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee preserves, protects, and promotes town shade trees. Street trees provide beauty, shade, breathable air, pure ground water, stable soil, and habitat for wildlife.  Therefore, our committee works in conjunction with the town Tree Warden to get trees properly selected, planted, and cared for throughout town.  We also work to ensure that trees get taken into account in town policies and planning. Our hope is to make Amherst a greener and lovelier town.

The Committee advises and makes recommendations to the Tree Warden and the Select Board on matters involving public shade trees, including, but not limited to: the replacement of dead or dying trees, the species recommended for replacements, the planting of additional trees, and the level of funding necessary to carry out these and other recommendations.  Additionally, we educate the public about the importance and benefits of town shade trees.


Meetings

  • August 10, 2021, 5:30 PM on Zoom
    Link will be posted one week before meeting.
  • We normally meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month and start each meeting with a public comment period.  Come tell us your thoughts about your public street trees!

Site Visits: Join us to discuss the fate of these trees.

  • Upcoming:
    - Wednesday, June 16, 5:30 PM:  West Cemetery:  We will discuss the possible removal of trees along the edge of the cemetery in connection with a new development on East Pleasant Street.
  • Past visits:
     -  April 7, 2021:  94 Flat Hills Road:  Landowner plans to build a house and put in driveway. 3 trees were in the way.  Committee accepted the removal as any other driveway configuration would result in a larger tree loss.
     -  February 19, 2021: 165 Bay Road:  7 large white pines in the way of electric wire upgrade. The Tree Committee requested that Eversource find a different way to configure the electric poles to remove the need to cut these trees.  And they did!

Agendas and Minutes:



How You Can Help


  1. Join us on our monthly plantings, usually the second Saturday of April through October.  Or, volunteer to help us with outreach and advocacy
  2. Make a contribution.  Please send to the below address:
          Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee
          c/o Henry Lappen
         120 Pulpit Hill, # 31
          Amherst, MA 01002
    Write checks to the Town of Amherst, with 'Gift Tree Fund' on the memo line.
       For more information, contact Henry Lappen.







Our committee represented at the New York City Climate Justice March, September 20, 2014

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