Do you know of some awesome trees in Boston? Well we want to hear about them! Speak for the Trees is in the process of creating self-guided tree walks to be enjoyed and shared by all.

But we need YOUR help to know which trees we should highlight and showcase. Please take a moment to fill out this nomination form for any amazing tree you know of in the city. Whether it is old, significant, funky, or beautiful, we would love to hear about it. You can fill out the form for as many trees as you want, and with all of the nominations that we receive, we will create guided walks through different neighborhoods that can be enjoyed by everyone. All you need to do is give us the location of the tree and tell us what is special about it (if you have a picture of it that's great). Thanks for your contribution!

Newton resident Elizabeth Sockwell and the Green Newton Youth Leadership Program have developed a tree planting program to honor lives lost due to COVID-19 . By planting trees they will create a living legacy to commemorate the tragic loss experienced by their community over the last year. The project, called 4C Tree for Capture Carbon Commemorate COVID-19, has already raised $33,000 of its $45,000 goal. Bravo Liz! Any chance we could bring this program to Boston? 

Boston city councilors Flynn and Breadon recently filed a hearing order to bring to discuss the process used for tree removals . Currently, residents are not directly alerted to tree removals and thus can easily miss the tree hearings. Flynn and Breadon are seeking to learn more about process and find ways to reduce barriers to community involvement. This is an important first conversation in preserving Boston's trees . 

Tree Eastie, in collaboration with Speak for the Trees, was recently awarded a $3500 grant to provide education on the benefits of trees as well as initiate an “Adopt a Tree” watering program in East Boston. Over the past year, SFTT has been collaborating with Tree Eastie, an urban forestry program in East Boston, to expand the tree canopy in that neighborhood which currently stands at 7% well below the 27% average for the rest of the city.

As an Environmental Justice community suffering the impacts of jet noise and pollution, urban heat island effect as well as rising sea level, these funds will be used to educate residents on the benefits trees can provide to mitigate against some of these burdens as well as encourage residents to care for trees in their neighborhoods. The information will be distributed throughout the community in both English and Spanish.

The grant was awarded as part of funds disbursed from the 99 Sumner Street Project Community Benefits fund maintained by the BPDA.