Manchester’s Tree Canopy Grows

Our Trees arrived safely and have been distributed to their new homes. Twenty-eight trees will be planted by AH Tree Service at the following locations: Three sturdy Northern Red Oaks in Masconomo Park; a Red Maple, two Tulip Trees, and a Tupelo at the High School; two Pin Oaks and a Serviceberry at the entrance to the Norwood Street parking area; a London Plane Tree and a Sweetgum in Coach Field Park; a flowering Pagoda Dogwood and a Redbud in Pleasant Grove; a Pin Oak, Tupelo, and Shagbark Hickory in the Rosedale Extension; a stately Tulip Tree along the border of Veterans Circle in Rosedale; two Swamp White Oaks and a Red Maple along the edge of Winthrop Field; a Sourwood on Union Street; and a Scarlet Oak on Tappan Street.

Trees, Trees, Trees!

The Friends of Manchester Trees extends our sincere thanks to the many member donors whose generosity fuels our mission, as well as to the board members and volunteers who make this town‑wide planting effort possible. We also offer a special thank you to AH Tree Service — Antonio Hernandez and his team have cared for our new trees with exceptional attention and will ensure they are planted with skill and stewardship. Together, we are cultivating a greener, healthier future for Manchester‑by‑the‑Sea.

A Special Thank You to Cavicchio Greenhouses

The Friends of Manchester Trees extends our heartfelt appreciation to Cavicchio Greenhouses, Inc. for providing the 28 beautiful trees that will take root across Manchester this spring. Their partnership strengthens our mission and helps ensure that our town continues to grow greener and healthier for generations to come.

We are grateful for their commitment to quality, stewardship, and community support. Together, we are cultivating a thriving urban canopy for Manchester‑by‑the‑Sea.

Learning From an Expert: Arborist Maggie Graves

Maggie Graves, Certified Arborist, Hartney Gremont

FOMT hosted its annual Arbor Day event at Manchester Memorial Elementary School where a Sugar Maple was planted, and each fifth‑grade student received a Silver Maple seedling to plant at home. This hands‑on activity encourages young residents to participate directly in caring for our local environment.

During our Arbor Day celebration, Maggie Graves, Arborist Representative and ISA‑Certified Arborist with Hartney Greymont, joined the fifth‑grade class at Memorial Elementary School for a hands‑on planting lesson. Maggie Graves is a graduate from UMASS Amherst and Manchester Memorial Elementary!

With enthusiasm and deep knowledge, Maggie guided students through the steps of planting their Silver Maple seedling, explaining how young trees grow, what they need to thrive, and why thoughtful planting makes a lifelong difference.

Her engaging teaching style turned the moment into more than a planting activity—it became an early lesson in stewardship, curiosity, and caring for the natural world around us.

Friends of Manchester Trees is grateful for Maggie’s time, expertise, and commitment to helping our youngest residents become the next generation of tree caretakers.

Special Thanks to Emily Lyons, FOMT Director

A heartfelt thank‑you to Emily Lyons, who organizes Arbor Day and has diligently overseen Manchester‑by‑the‑Sea’s Tree City USA application process for many years. Her commitment ensures our town continues to meet the national standards required to maintain this important designation.

Manchester‑by‑the‑Sea proudly celebrates 34 consecutive years as a Tree City USA community, a reflection of our long‑standing dedication to thoughtful urban forestry and community stewardship.

To qualify as a Tree City USA community, a municipality must meet four standards established by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters:

A Tree Board or Department — fulfilled by the Friends of Manchester Trees
A Tree Care Ordinance — our Town Tree Policy
A Community Forestry Program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita
An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation

Look for our
Tree City USA sign on Pine Street, just as you come off Route 128 and enter town.

Our Mission

To provide support for the planting, preservation, and care of trees in the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea.

The Friends...

Provide funding for the planting of new Town trees.
Encourage and foster the planting, preservation, care, and maintenance of trees and shrubs in the parks and public lands in the Town of Manchester.
Advocate respect for the aesthetic, ecological, and horticultural value of trees for the benefit of every resident.
Provide input to the Town regarding decisions for removal of dead or diseased trees.
Research, assess, and communicate timely information for the care and preservation of trees in cooperation with Town leadership and residents' interests.
Collect and disseminate timely information to appropriate public officials and concerned citizens regarding their care and preservation.