Volunteers Expand East Greenwich's Tree Canopy, One Tree at a Time

EAST GREENWICH, RI—East Greenwich is considered a picturesque town for a number of reasons: a sparkling shoreline, quaint Main Street, historic architecture and a tendency for residents to keep their plots tidy and gardens in bloom.

Now, thanks to the efforts of the East Greenwich Tree Council, the town's canopy of trees is getting some steady and much-needed attention. The ultimate goal is to increase the town's total canopy by replacing fallen, sick and damaged specimens, plus planting new trees, one tree at a time.

This month, the volunteer-based council held a pair of tree plantings to celebrate spring, Arbor Day and the town as a whole.

The first was on May 7 on Main Street near the corner of London Street. There, members replaced a street tree that was hit by a speeding car in 2009 and cleaned up a nearby patch of weeds and dirt on the corner of London and Main, planting some grasses and daylilies, much to the delight of Besos chef-owner Dana Wronski, whose restaurant is next door.

“We were so thrilled to see all of the planting activity taking place on Main Street across from Besos last week, just days after a customer commented that we should do something about the overgrown patch of land across London Street,” she said. “Next thing I knew the beautification team took matters into their own hands. It's the little things and attention to detail that will help take Main Street from good to great!"

The new Cleveland pear was paid for by the East Greenwich Rotary Club. The Cindy-Wood Garden Club pitched in for the daylilies.

Two days later, council members were joined by members of Nicholas Rath's botany class at East Greenwich High School. They descended upon the barn at Briggs-Boesch Farm and planted a Princeton elm.

The new tree will offer shade for generations at the East Greenwich Land Trust property and its planting was a great experience for the students, their teacher said.

“This was a great opportunity for our students to make connections between a working historic farm, plant diversity and the civic involvement of local volunteers,” said Rath. “Learning about plants and the essential role they play in our ecosystems is essential for young people to develop an appreciation of the environment around them."

The East Greenwich Tree Council can always use fresh blood to keep the cause going. Those interested can come to their meetings, held on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. Email Elizabeth McNamara for more information.

Donations can be sent to PO Box 903, East Greenwich RI 02818. Put "EG Tree Council" in the memo field.

Follow the group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/egtreecouncil

Submitted photos.