Updates from Hope Cemetery and Hope Woods

Fall 2025

Welcome to our first quarterly e-newsletter! We hope this will keep you apprised of activities and improvements happening at Hope Cemetery and Hope Woods.

Inside:

Cemetery Updates: Arboretum, Columbarium, and Beech Tree Preservation
News of Hope Woods: Awards, Galls, and Last Walks of '25

Friends of Hope Cemetery & Woods | friendsofhcw@gmail.com | https://hopewoodsfriends.org

Hope Cemetery Corporation | hopecemetery@yahoo.com| https://hopecemeterykennebunk.com

Arboretum-to-Be

Capitalizing on the wonderful and diverse collection of trees and shrubs within the Cemetery, the Hope Cemetery Board has decided to pursue Level 1 Arboretum accreditation through the international ArbNet program.

The Board views this accreditation as a powerful way to enhance the property, transforming it into an outdoor museum of woody plants for the community to enjoy. To date over 450 plants have been identified and documented, including more than 40 different species, within the Cemetery proper.

With the mapping and documentation process nearing completion, the Board plans to submit its application over the winter. Once established, the Hope Cemetery Arboretum will give all visitors a deeper appreciation for the natural environment within this special place.

Columbarium Debuts

The new Storer Columbarium has been completed and is now receiving inurnments. This new feature of Hope Cemetery has generated significant interest, and sales are meeting expectations. The four stone walls can accommodate up to 534 cremation burials. While columbaria are not new, this is the first at Hope Cemetery and serves as a prime example of how the Board continues to look for ways to keep the Cemetery current in its offerings by responding to the growing local trend that favors cremation options. Two memorial benches recently added through a private donation help to make this space especially unique.

Saving Our Beech Trees

Visitors frequently enjoy strolling the winding paths beneath the Cemetery's beautiful, diverse canopy. Among the most treasured assets are several majestic Copper Beech trees, including one magnificent specimen near the Cemetery entrance that is likely the largest in the State of Maine!

In recent years, these magnificent trees have come under attack from a nematode that is the causal agent of the deadly Beech Leaf Disease.

Fortunately, specialists have developed what they believe to be a successful treatment plan. All of the beech trees have now been treated using this protocol. Simultaneously, a protocol has been implemented as a comprehensive, holistic approach to ensure their long-term health.

Concurrent maintenance efforts include:

Soil Analysis: The soils around each individual tree have been tested and customized organic amendments have been applied.
Root Support: Injection points were sensitively drilled around the tree roots and a powerful blend of biochar and compost was introduced. This provides essential organic matter and mycorrhizal supplementation to aid in optimal nutrient and water absorption.

Through these dedicated practices, the Board is highly hopeful that these important trees will continue to thrive and provide enjoyment for the community for many years to come.

Support Hope Cemetery and Hope Woods

Friends of Hope Cemetery & Woods, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, accepts donations for both Hope Cemetery and Hope Woods. Each year we issue an Annual Appeal to help support our efforts. Click here for more information or scan the QR code to the right.

High Honors for George and for FHCW

On September 16th, George C. Harrington, President Emeritus of Friends of Hope Cemetery & Woods, earned the 3 Towns, 1 Community Award. This is a high honor the Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel Chamber of Commerce bestows upon an individual in recognition of outstanding generosity to the community.

On the same night, Friends of Hope Cemetery & Woods was awarded the top honor for Best Trails/Walks. FHCW President Gordon Collins accepted the award.

“With the support of his wife DD, George is often the first person to show up when we put out the call for pantry food or school supplies. He’s the tall quiet shadow on our doorstep with that great smile and a generous heart.”

- Laura Dolce, Executive Director, KKACC

Walks Will Conclude in November

The free Guided Walk with a Naturalist series will take its last stroll of the season on Saturday, 11/15 at 10AM. Reserve your spot by emailing friendsofhcw@gmail.com.

The Nordic Walking Group will continue to gather every Thursday from 9-10AM with the final walk for the season on Thanksgiving Day. The walks are free and poles are provided. No registration necessary.

Hope Woods is open year-round for all to enjoy. However, when Hope Cemetery is closed for the winter, the parking lot at the trailhead will not be available.

Private guided walks are available on a limited basis.

The Gall of Some Ecosystems

This may look like a grape, but it is a gall, and it’s a mind-blowing example of an oak tree’s defenses. Some wasps like to lay eggs on oak trees in the spring. Something remarkable happens when the oak detects it has a wasp egg visitor: it encapsulates the egg in plant tissue, creating a protective barrier between tree and soon-to-be insect. This casing does not kill the wasp; in fact, the plant tissue is edible and acts as sustenance for the developing larva. The gall will eventually fall from the oak. By Autumn an adult wasp will bite its way through the gall and continue the cycle of life.

Submit your ideas here for future stories!

How did you like this e-newsletter?

Connect with us