Friends of Manchester Trees Hosts Best-Selling Author and Forester Ethan Tapper at Annual Summer Soirée

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On Tuesday, June 23, the Friends of Manchester Trees (FOMT) welcomed members to its Annual Summer Soirée at the Manchester Yacht Club. The evening featured special guest speaker Ethan Tapper, forester and author of How to Love a Forest, winner of the 2025 New England Book Award for nonfiction.

Founded in 1973, FOMT has long served as the primary benefactor for the planting and care of public trees in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Everyone in town is welcome to join this community organization.

After thanking members for their support, Board President Jody Morse presented a special recognition award to board member Marlene Dolan for her leadership in replanting and beautifying the area in front of the Manchester Post Office. “Marlene saw an eyesore in our downtown and was determined to make it beautiful,” said Morse. “Along with the thirty-four new trees planted around town this spring, the Post Office project made a statement about who we are as a community.”

Early in his presentation, Tapper captured the audience's attention with a somewhat surprising statement: “Planting a tree is the easy part.” His message was clear: we all need to be stewards of the landscapes we care about. FOMT does more than plant trees; it cares for them over time. Managing and tending forests is a long-term commitment that never truly ends.

Tapper noted that most forests in New England are relatively young, with very few remaining old-growth forests. The forests of Manchester are no exception. Today, forests and trees face increasing challenges from what he described as “global change”—a term that encompasses climate change, biodiversity loss, invasive species, emerging pathogens, deforestation, and changes in water cycles.

Rather than taking a hands-off approach, Tapper argued that people should actively help forests and trees thrive. Communities can plant native species, promote biodiversity, provide supplemental water when needed, remove invasive plants, and address deer overpopulation, which can prevent the successful regeneration of young trees through excessive browsing.

He also emphasized that forests are more than collections of trees. They are complex ecosystems that build soil, clean air and water, store carbon, and provide habitat for insects, birds, and other wildlife. Preserving large, connected areas of forestland, he noted, is essential to maintaining healthy ecosystems.

The evening concluded with a renewed sense of inspiration and hope. The annual soirée not only celebrated the accomplishments of Friends of Manchester Trees but also reinforced the community's shared commitment to environmental stewardship and the long-term care of Manchester's trees and forests.

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.

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New Native Streetscape at the Manchester Post Office at 15 Beach Street

Funded by Friends of Manchester Trees — made possible by members like you.

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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.