Treemendous! Annually, Town Plants 40-60 Trees On Its Rights-Of-Way

BRANFORD, CT —In 1915, poet Joyce Kilmer wrote his iconic poem, Trees.

"I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may, in Summer wear, A nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree."

And the Branford Community Forest Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Public Works, plants them.

Annually, a list of tree planting sites is created. Public works buys and plants 40 to 60 trees every year, and also waters and maintains them. But the locations may also be suggested by the public!

"We strive to ensure that all Branford residents are given the opportunity to share in the many benefits provided by trees," CFC co-chairs Ivy Bigelow and Susan Hally noted in a town news release.

Anyone who would like a street tree planted in Town right of way can request it online here.

Trees are an important public health infrastructure, according to the Community Forest Commission:

Native trees are planted because they support native insects, birds and other wildlife. Trees are an important public health infrastructure. US Forest service scientists have shown that the more trees in a neighborhood, and the bigger the trees, the lower the mortality rates. On streets that lose tree cover, pre-mature mortality increases. Trees markedly reduce air pollution, the silent killer.

Per the World Health Organization, air pollution kills approximately 7 million people a year. Trees decrease cardiovascular risk, cognitive decline, and the incidence of metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, and diabetes; they improve pulmonary and immune function, stress recovery, and social interactions. Trees decrease the heat island effect, noise, and nighttime light pollution and increase the amount of exercise people undertake. Businesses with trees in front are more frequently visited. High school students who visualize trees through their classroom windows have more positive standardized test scores, higher graduation rates, and a higher percentage going to a four-year college.

Human's innate attraction to trees and nature is termed biophilia. Caring for our trees is
important. Note that correct mulching can improve the health of a tree but volcano mulching, not infrequently seen in Branford, can kill a tree from bark rot, insect/rodent infestation, and water and oxygen not getting to the roots.