For Immediate Release - April 17, 2024
City of Northampton Celebrates Earth Day and Arbor Day
with Tree Plantings and Tree Whip Giveaway
NORTHAMPTON - In celebration of Earth Day on Monday, April 22, 2024, Northampton’s Department of Public Works (DPW), the Urban Forestry Commission, the residents' group Tree Northampton, and the Northampton Rotary Club will recognize Earth Day and the beginning of spring tree planting by collaborating for a tree planting on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Volunteers will plant 12 trees to replace Ash trees on Ice Pond Drive damaged by the invasive Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a wood-boring pest that feeds primarily on ash trees and has no natural predator in North America.
On Arbor Day, join us for the 21st Annual Arbor Day Tree Whip Giveaway in front of City Hall. The event will take place on Friday, April 26, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. All members of the community are welcome to participate. The city will provide 600 free tree whips for residents to plant on private property. Tree Northampton volunteers will staff the event and provide illustrated tree fact sheets specific to each species offered, together with tree planting and care information. Participants can choose from six tree species, including Winterberry Holly, Hawthorne, and Eastern Redbud. Larger trees include Red Oak, Tulip Poplar, Concolor Fir, and Shagbark Hickory. Each species was chosen to promote tree species diversity and the ecological sustainability of Northampton’s urban tree canopy.
These efforts at restoring the city’s canopy take on increased importance given the emergence of invasive pests threatening trees in the city. Along with the Emerald Ash Borer, the Spotted Lanternfly has also been detected in Northampton. Tree Warden Rich Parasiliti, Jr., and the Northampton Urban Forestry Commission are currently asking for the public to help monitor the arrival of the Spotted Lanternfly, a planthopper that consumes foliage from a wide variety of trees. For more information on how you can help, please visit: Spotted Lanternfly Notification.
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."
For additional information, contact Rich Parasiliti, Jr., Tree Warden, at 413-587-1570 Ext. 4317.
