April 2024 Newsletter
Arbor Week 2024!
Every year Cambridge celebrates Arbor Week during the last full week in April. Join us for events celebrating trees and our urban forest Monday April 22 through Friday April 26:

Monday 4/22: Check out Forestry Fast Facts around schools and public buildings! Learn about our Forestry program and some of our most beloved trees in the city.

Tuesday 4/23: Pick up a free seedling, ask a forestry question, and learn about our urban forest. Forestry staff, Committee on Public Planting members, and Green Cambridge staff will be tabling at City Hall from 10am-12pm.

Wednesday 4/24: Join Forestry staff for an evening Tree Walk in East Cambridge. We will depart Gold Star Mothers Park at 5:30pm and finish at the new Triangle Park located at Binney St and First St.

Thursday 4/25: Forestry staff, Committee on Public Planting members, and Green Cambridge staff will be tabling at the Main Library from 10am-5pm. Stop by for a free seedling and learn about our urban forest. Members of the TSKP x IKD design team will be on site hosting a woodblock printing activity for the public. The Library will offer Toddler Story Time in celebration of Arbor Week at 11am.

Friday 4/26: National Arbor Day! Celebrate our urban forest! City staff will be celebrating Arbor Day by a tree planting with Mayor Denise Simmons at a Cambridge Public School.

In addition to the in-person events planned for Arbor Week, Public Works has launched 2 new websites for foliage fanatics to enjoy this spring:
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Urban Forestry is Hiring Summer Interns!
Water-By-Bike:

Are you or anyone you know interested in helping water newly planted trees in Cambridge? Every summer the City of Cambridge hires 8 Water-By-Bike Tree Ambassadors to help newly planted trees get established. The Water by Bike Program is a great way to help our Urban Forest, work outside, and engage with residents of Cambridge about the benefits of trees. The job description is posted on the City of Cambridge website. https://www.cambridgema.gov/careers

Tree Inventory/Management: 

Interested in flexing your tree ID skills and learning how the City manages its tree data? Apply for one of the 2 open Tree Inventory/Management intern positions. Help keep our tree inventory up-to-date and accurate by identifying and measuring trees around the City. Selected individuals may also assist in identifying potential tree planting locations. The job description is posted on the City of Cambridge website. https://www.cambridgema.gov/careers
Water-By-Tree Ambassadors hard at work caring for a street tree.
Spring Tree Planting is Underway!
Spring is finally here! The City’s goal for the spring tree planting season is to plant over 700 trees! Trees cool the city, reduce pollution, support wildlife, improve water quality, and provide countless other benefits to residents and visitors. Over 50 different species of trees will be planted, which will contribute to the diversity and resilience of the urban forest. A map of planned spring 2024 planting locations can be found on the Urban Forestry website: https://www.cambridgema.gov/Services/urbanforestry
New trees planted on Reservoir St.
Purchase a Discounted Rain Barrel to Help Water Trees
DPW is offering Cambridge residents the opportunity to purchase a rain barrel at a discounted rate of $89. Rain barrels provide homeowners with an alternate free water supply to use on lawns or plants (and trees!) by capturing rainwater from the roof for later use. Rain barrels are a great way for Cambridge residents to partner with the City in conserving valuable water resources and protecting the environment. By capturing rainwater to use later, the volume of stormwater runoff reaching the streets is reduced, water is conserved, and the groundwater is recharged.

Order here and select "Cambridge" when prompted. Pick-Up Date is: Tuesday, April 30, 4:00pm-6:30pm at 63 Mooney St. Deadline To Order: April 21
Sign up for free tree with Canopy Crew
If you have space for a tree on your property, Green Cambridge can plant a free native tree to help expand Cambridge’s urban tree canopy! If you own your home Cambridge, MA and would like Green Cambridge to plant a tree in your yard for FREE visit https://www.greencambridge.org/canopycrew
Become a Cambridge Urban Forest Friend
We need your help to maintain a healthy, vibrant urban forest! Any Cambridge resident willing to water the tree and provide some general care for the tree is welcome to become a Cambridge Urban Forest Friend.

How to Start
Questions?
Contact

For question about the Cambridge Urban Forest Friends, please contact Kristen Kelleher, Community Relations Manager at 617-349-4825/ kkelleher@cambridgema.gov.

**Please let us know if you no longer are caring for your street tree and we will remove you from the database and future e-mails.**