September Newsletter
Free Specimen Trees
We are pleased to announce the return of our Free Specimen Tree Program. Each year NTC provides a selection of free trees to Newporters who make a commitment to planting and caring for them.

This year, we are offering a weeklong preview period to ensure that you find the right tree that fits your space.

Click on the link below to view the 10 available species of trees. We have included both smaller flowering and larger shade trees, all are roughly 5-6ft tall, 3/4in caliper, in 7 gallon containers.

Beginning Monday Sept. 21st at noon, you will be able to click on any of the available trees listed to make your request. Due to high demand, we can only accept requests via our website.

Please note: unlike previous years, we are asking those who have previously received a free tree from us to kindly wait until Friday Sept. 25th to submit their request so that we are able to share trees with as many Newporters as possible.
Miantonomi Park Reforestation
Last fall, with the help of a great group of volunteers, we planted 30 new native trees in the woodlands of Miantonomi Park. The park is home to the largest forest in Newport, but we have lost roughly 1/3 of the mature tree canopy in the last decade. These holes in the canopy allow invasive understory species to choke out our native trees and shrubs.

We are pleased to report that all 30 of these new trees have survived their first year. Seen above, our intern Aislinn surveys a young maple that has nearly doubled in size since it was planted last fall.

We will continue to monitor these trees with the help of the City of Newport's Forestry Team by keeping invasives away until the trees are mature enough to hold their own.
Would you like to help us plant the next round of trees?
We will be hosting two tree planting events on October 23rd and 24th at Miantonomi Park. Click the button below to add your name to our volunteer list and get updates on upcoming opportunities.
Learning from the Garden
Last week we were thrilled to host a group of campers from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. Our Program Director, Rachel and Horticulturist, Kristyn spent the morning showing the kids around The Heritage Tree Center and exploring our pollinizer garden.

Campers had a blast exploring the garden, searching for pollinators, learning about the monarch butterfly's life-cycle, and munching on some carrots pulled right from the soil.
Remembering Steve Casey
We at the Newport Tree Conservancy were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Casey last week.

Steve was one of the founding members of the original Newport Tree Society, and a long-standing member of Newport's Tree Commission. His deep appreciation of Newport's trees, and leadership in advocating for their benefit will be dearly missed.

We are honored to have been named a recipient of donations in honor of Steve's memory and are committed to honoring his legacy through our work on behalf of Newport's trees.
A Fantastic Summer at the Tree House
Thank you to all who donated and purchased trees in support of our summer fundraiser. It was a pleasure to finally be able to share the trees we are growing at our nursery with our community. Thanks to our generous supporters, NTC raised over $54,000 in support of our programs.

Despite the challenges of this year, the success of this event allows us to continue offering the wide range of planting and educational programs that benefit Newport's urban forest.