NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – As part of Earth Day celebrations on Monday, April 22, the Department of Public Works (DPW), the Urban Forestry Commission, Tree Northampton, and the Rotary Club of Northampton will join forces to plant trees on Saturday, April 20.
On Ice Pond Drive, volunteers will plant 12 trees to replace Ash trees that have been damaged by the invasive Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a wood-boring pest that affects primarily ash trees and has no natural predator in North America.
The 21st Annual Arbor Day Tree Whip Giveaway will take place in front of City Hall on Arbor Day. This event will take place on Friday, April 26, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event is open to all members of the community.
Residents will be provided with 600 free tree whips to plant on their private property. Volunteers from Tree Northampton will staff the event and provide illustrated tree fact sheets for each species offered, as well as instructions for planting and caring for trees.
Participants can select from six tree species, including Winterberry Holly, Hawthorne, and Eastern Redbud. Red Oak, Tulip Poplar, Concolor Fir, and Shagbark Hickory are some of the larger trees. To ensure the ecological sustainability of Northampton’s urban tree canopy, each species was selected to promote species diversity.
In light of the emergence of invasive pests that are threatening trees in the city, these efforts at restoring the city’s canopy are of increasing importance. In addition to the Emerald Ash Borer, the Spotted Lanternfly has also been detected in Northampton. In order to monitor the arrival of the Spotted Lanternfly, a planthopper that consumes foliage from a wide variety of trees, Tree Warden Rich Parasiliti, Jr., and the Northampton Urban Forestry Commission are asking the public for assistance.
Parasiliti said, “Invasive species are causing increasing pressure on our city’s trees and one goal of the Northampton public shade tree program is to diversify the canopy to help protect it from pests. Northampton’s canopy is dominated by oak and maple trees and it’s important that residents also help by planting a good variety of species on private land to increase resiliency in the face of changing conditions”.
“I am deeply thankful for the dedication of our Tree Warden and our organizations and volunteers devoted to nurturing our urban tree canopy,” shared Mayor Sciarra. “In the face of the climate crisis, their unwavering commitment to enhancing our city’s greenery and purifying our air is truly inspiring. Their work promises not only immediate benefits but also a sustainable legacy for generations to come.”
Kayleigh Thomas is a digital reporter who has been a part of the 22News team since 2022. Follow Kayleigh on X @kayleighcthomas and view her bio to see more of her work.