Mattapoisett’s tree canopy is one of its most precious resources, enhancing the town’s beauty and charm and helping to define its character as much as its seaside location. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, trees “offer cooling shade, block cold winter winds, attract birds and wildlife, purify our air, prevent soil erosion, clean our water…” In addition, the trees around us serve an increasingly vital purpose of helping to slow climate change by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, storing it in trees and soil, and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.
On a more personal level, just a few deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides of your home can reduce your energy use by up to 30%, and trees shading air conditioners can reduce electricity use by 10% compared to units in the sun, says the U.S. Department of Energy.
Recently, the Town Tree Planting Committee has enhanced two of the Town’s key programs to encourage residents to participate in adding to Mattapoisett’s stock of trees: street tree planting and memorial trees.
Mattapoisett’s street tree planting program has been constrained somewhat by the presence of utilities, sidewalks, and other public features limiting the number of potential planting sites on town land. Recently, however, the Town of Mattapoisett and the Mattapoisett Tree Planting Committee have adopted a new program aimed at expanding opportunities for residents to help increase the Town’s tree cover. The Street Tree Setback Planting Program allows the Tree Warden to plant trees within 20 feet of the road. The new program enables residents to enjoy Town trees, at no cost to the homeowner, within the area of their property, if they so choose.
For the first three years, the Town will own and maintain the tree(s). Participating homeowners will sign an agreement with the Town, allowing the Tree Warden to plant on their properties and agreeing to be responsible for the care of the tree(s) after the three-year period is up.
Mattapoisett’s memorial tree program, familiar to residents as long-lasting way to honor a loved one’s memory or mark a special occasion, will now include Ned’s Point as a location for planting. The Tree Committee’s guidelines will be modified slightly to ensure that plantings at Ned’s Point will be part of the Ned’s Point Planting Plan recently designed. Residents wishing to contribute a memorial tree will “buy into” the plan by paying for the purchase of a tree whose species and location at Ned’s Point have already been designated as part of the plan for gradually replacing trees at the Point. Because of the nature of the location, memorial trees here will not have plaques.
For more information, or to express interest any of the Town’s tree planting programs, please contact our Town Tree Warden Roland Cote at (508) 989-2017 or email the Tree Committee at mattapoisetttreecom@gmail.com.