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


2023

April 8:  Planting  - Dana St. & Blue Hills Rd.

May 13   Planting - Orchard St., Northampton Rd. & S. Pleasant St.

We are planning locations now for the rest of the year. Email us suggestions!

 2022

April 9:  Planting  - Downtown & Kendrick Park

May 14:  Planting - Country Corners Road

June 11:  Planting - Groff Park & Mill Lane

July 9:   Workday - E. Pleasant St.

Sept. 10: Workday - N. Pleasant St.

October 8: Planting - Woodside Ave

November 12: Planting  - McClellan St

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

                     PAST EVENTS
 
 2021 

April 10: Downtown
May 8: The Brook Condominiums
June 12: Glendale Road
July 10: Work Party behind Atkin Farms Store
August 14: Work Party in Atkins rotaries
September 11: Planting: Clark House, Bangs Center and other downtown locations
October 9: Planting: East Pleasant Street
November 13:  Work Party: Longmeadow Drive

 2020 

September 12: E. Hadley Road
October 10: Lincoln Avenue
November 14: Farview Way


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

  • Tuesday, June13, 2023,  5:30 PM on Zoom
    Link to be provided 1 week before date.
  • 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: May 8, Monday, at 5:30. Meet at 32 College Street to discuss the fate of a  17” DBH (Diameter at Breast Height ) Norway Maple. It is in the way of new underground utilities.
  • Past visits:
    - March 7, 2023,  1162 N. Pleasant St. The committee accepted the removal of 1 large Norway maple and the relocation of 3 smaller trees to make room for a multi-use path along the road. We felt the proposal would free up more space for trees overall with the removal of much pavement. We requested root zone protection for the remaining trees during construction.
    - November 1, 2022:  West Street and West Pomeroy: The committee reviewed the  removal of a 12” DBH Red Maple for the re-design of the intersection and reluctantly agreed to let it be removed.
    - August 2, 2022: The "Merry Maple" and 2 other Norway maples on the common: The committee voted to allow the removal of these trees. We felt that the trees are not healthy and will suffer further damage from the reconstruction of the north part of the common and the expense of trying to keep them alive would be better spent on new trees.
    - June 7, 2022: 197 S. Pleasant Street: The cucumber magnolia was saved. An attempt to protect the Norway maple from sidewalk redesign will be made but otherwise, the tree will have to go.
    - June 7: McClellan Ave: The 4 pine trees are in bad shape and will be removed before sidewalk reconstruction begins.
    -March 7, 2022:  174 Sunset Ave - The committee reluctantly agreed to the removal of 2 trees with conditions.  Due to neighbors' strong opposition, this was changed to one tree removal.
    - August 26, 2021:  Kendrick Park - We discussed the town's plan to change North Pleasant Street .
    - June 16, 2021:  West Cemetery:  We asked the developer to protect the healthy maples on the corners of the property, the replace the fence separating the cemetery from the buildings, and to replace lost trees with new large shade trees.
     -  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:
  • Most Recent Agenda | All Agendas
  • Most Recent Minutes | All 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 us.




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

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