2012 Report for Westville (Barnett-Willard)

Year

2012

Number of volunteers

65

Total volunteer hours

250

Number of events

7

Number of trees planted

29

Enter more details about trees planted

1 American Hophornbeam, 1 American Linden, 2 Crabapple (red leaf), 2 Golden Rain Trees, 3 Kousa dogwood (pink blooms), 1 Kousa Dogwood (white), 1 Flowering Pear, 2 Purple leaf plum, 9 Red maple, 3 Redbud (green leaf) (2) redbud (red leaf) (2) Serviceberry

Number of shrubs planted

0

Number of perennials planted

78

Enter more details about perennials planted

75 day lilies (3 per tree x25 trees), 3 catmint (at memorial 100th tree)

Yards compost spread

5.00

Yards mulch spread

5.00

Summary

In its 6th year of participation, Barnett-Willard group continued its ambitious street tree planting goals in the commercial district known as the Westville Village. The past two years were marked by decreased volunteer participation and the desire to organize modest but frequent tree plantings rather than a small number of marathon planting events. Also, with co-leader Abe Lincoln moving away, it was necessary to build core group membership. Jessica Feinleib succeeded in meeting all of these goals. She recruited two new co-leaders Chris Heitmann (Executive Director of the Westville Village Renaissance Alliance (WVRA), whose existing relationships with local businesses were instrumental for insuring tree stewardship), and Debby Evans (community organizer who tirelessly conducted community outreach and brought a number of new volunteers into the group). The group followed a strict schedule of planting about five trees weekly, planting 29 new trees this season and reaching their goal of 100 trees planted in Westville since the group was founded in 2007. During a hot, dry period they sent emails to all tree recipients to water their trees, and even drove water in buckets to thirsty trees during the week of July 4 holiday. As a result, only one tree failed to survive due to lack of watering. The season culminated with a 100th Tree Celebration that was attended by many community members, volunteers, New Haven Independent correspondent David Sepulveda and Mayor DeStefano, during which a commemorative '100th tree' plaque was installed near the WVRA office.

Other activity

2 yds topsoil, 58 tree stakes and one memorial "10th tree" plaque