State of the Forest 2023

state OF THE forest 2023

MISSION The Newport Tree Conservancy is dedicated to fostering a healthy urban forest in the City of Newport, Rhode Island through permanent tree management and planting programs, for the benefit of

STAFF Natasha Harrison Executive Director

Lilly Dick President

Olivia Hinsey-Langlais Horticulture Assistant

Maureen Cronin

present and future citizens of Newport.

Annie Holbert Communications Coordinator

We are committed to engaging

Rachel Holbert Program Director

in public education regarding the importance of trees, improved planting, and maintenance techniques. We will continue to assist in the inventorying and evaluation of Newport’s urban forest and the development of a plan of action.

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

BOARD

Kathy Kelleher Operations Manager Joe Verstandig Living Collections Manager Kristyn Woodland (retired 2023) Horticulturist

Robert Currier Secretary Dory Hamilton Benson 2024 Incoming Lisa Lewis Lauren Parmalee 2024 Incoming William “Rocky” Steeves

DEAR FRIENDS AND MEMBERS, As I embark on my fifth year with Newport Tree Conservancy (NTC), my enthusiasm for the organization’s current standing and future trajectory has never been greater.

Throughout 2023, we remained steadfast in our commitment to the mission, surpassing our goals to both expand and sustain the health of Newport’s urban forest.

We continued to propagate progeny from Newport’s most iconic trees and we expanded Newport’s urban forest by planting 200+ trees.

Additionally, NTC has dedicated ourselves to advancing conservation education within the community and more than doubled our outreach from the previous year. The subsequent pages provide details on the positive impact we have had.

In the pursuit of broadening our Scope, we have initiated a multiphase transition to a new location on Coggeshall Avenue in Newport.

This strategic move is poised to enhance our horticultural capabilities significantly, offering an expanded space for our burgeoning nursery of

historic and unique trees.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our partners and supporters, recognizing that our meaningful work would be unattainable without your generous contributions. Your steadfast support empowers us to create a lasting and positive difference in Newport, solidifying our commitment to the community’s well-being.

Natasha Harrison Executive Director State of the Forest 2023

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FORESTRY Our horticulture team works tirelessly throughout the year, maintaining our tree nursery, propagating trees through techniques like grafting, and executing planting initiatives.

Concentrating efforts in Newport’s HEZ area, we strive for Tree Equity,to ensure that every citizen has access to the benefits that trees provide.

In 2023, we added over 200 trees to Newport’s Urban Forest.

215

PUBLIC TREES CARED FOR

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

2023 PLANTINGS

201

TREES PLANTED

3

48 10

ARBOR DAY Spring 2023

COMMUNITY TREE PROGRAM Fall 2023 COMMEMORATIVE TREE PROGRAM Spring & Fall 2023

100

MIANTANOMI PARK REFORESTATION Fall 2023

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FALL TREE PROGRAM Fall 2023 State of the Forest 2023

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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT We are dedicated to providing a multitude of opportunities for both residents and visitors to engage with Newport’s urban forest. Whether through monthly guided tours, technical workshops, or hands-on volunteer projects, we aim to encourage everyone to explore, care for, and learn from the trees in Newport. The crucial elements of awareness, advocacy, and community support are fundamental in creating and sustaining a healthy and lively urban forest.

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ADULT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

VOLUNTEERS Our efforts are made achievable through the remarkable

community

generously

contribute

of

their

volunteers time

to

who

support

Newport’s trees.

94

VOLUNTEERS

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WORK PROJECTS

272

SERVICE HOURS

State of the Forest 2023

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YOUTH EDUCATION The Newport Tree Conservancy fosters a connection between our community and trees with environmental education tailored for all age groups. Our experienced staff offers Next Generation Science Standardaligned lessons featuring hands-on outdoor and classroom activities designed for K-12 students in Newport.

550

YOUTH PARTICIPANTS

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

PLACEHOLDER

State of the Forest 2023

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GROWING FOR THE FUTURE In the Fall of 2017, Newport Tree Conservancy took a momentous step forward in pursuit of our mission with the construction of the Heritage Tree Center on the campus of Rogers High School.

Over these past 7 years, we have continued to expand the scope and capacity of our nursery which now is home to over 313 accessions representing more than 58 different species.

The redevelopment of the Rogers campus coupled with our intention to further expand our growing capacity led us on a search for a new, permanent home for our tree nursery. Now, thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Mary “Minnie” Coleman, the Heritage Tree Center will begin a multi-phase transition to its new home among the historic greenhouses of Coggeshall Avenue.

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

The Future Home of The Heritage Tree Center

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PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF NEWPORT The Newport Tree Conservancy (NTC) operates closely with the City of Newport’s Forestry Division, fostering a collaborative effort to enhance and maintain the urban forest. This alliance encompasses a spectrum of activities, ranging from the identification of suitable planting locations, the planting of new trees, and the meticulous mapping of the existing urban forest.

The collective efforts extend to the comprehensive care of trees, including disease treatment and pathogen testing, ensuring the vitality of Newport’s green spaces.

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

A noteworthy initiative facilitated by the Forestry Division is their contribution to Tree Corps program, NTC’s volunteer tree care team. This collaboration involves providing essential resources such as mulch and water, supporting the Tree Corps in their endeavors to nurture and protect Newport’s urban forest.

This collaborative model exemplifies how effective partnerships between civic entities and volunteer organizations can create a robust framework for urban forestry and environmental stewardship.

Newport RI is home to more accredited arboreta than any other community. The Newport Tree Conservancy partners with homeowners and institutions in the proces of earning arboretum accreditation from the Morton Arboretum through ArbNet. This list includes the City of Newport as New England’s first-ever ciity-wide accredited arboretum.

Bellevue House

The Newport Arboretum

2023 ACCREDITED ARBORETA

Blue Garden

Bonniecrest

Broadlawns

Driftwood Cottage

Harbor House

Maher-a-lago

Newport Mansions

Oakwood

Pax et Bonum

Salt Marsh

Second Wind

Stonybrook

Toad Hall

Walnut Point

Weetamoe

Wyndham

State of the Forest 2023

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2023 FINANCES INCOME Other 4% Foundations 30%

Earned Income 5% Corporations 6%

Events 27%

Gov Grants 11% Individuals 17%

Foundations

$170,066.00

Events

$152,624.00

Individuals

$96,643.00

Gov Grants

$63,000.00

Corporations

$33,908.00

Earned income

$25,780.00

Other

$20,172.00

TOTAL

$562,193.00

EXPENSES Education 26%

Forestry 47%

Facilities 4% Development 8%

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Management 15%

NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

Forestry

$237,530.00

Education

$133,361.00

Management

$78,130.00

Development

$40,922.00

Facilities

$20,414.00

TOTAL

$510,357.00

Newport Tree Conservancy graciously thanks all

THANK YOU!

of our generous members and supporters for their calendar year 2023 contributions: Anne Fairfax & Richard Sammons

Sandra & Grenville Craig

NewportFed Charitable Foundation

Miles Hamilton & Laura Stonerook

Maureen Cronin & Mark Marosits

Laurie Nicoletti

Gray Hamilton & Ellie Trepte

Brittain & John Damgard

Matt & Anne Hamilton

Angus & Joanna Davis

Roderick O’Hanley & Richard Crisson

Hartfield Foundation

Margaret & Bob Duprey

OLB Foundation

Lisa Lewis & Bart Dunbar

Frederick Henry Prince Memorial Fund at Newport Hospital

Lisa & Paul Perrault

Bernard Gewirz

David Ray

Pamela Giannini & Joseph McEnness Sam Hamilton

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

John Harris & Linda Sawyer

Suzette Schochet

Edward & Wendy Harvey

Nick & Indira Schorsch

Edward & Katherine Karle Charlotte & Paul Marshall

Dr. Denice Spero & Dr. Christopher Pargellis

Judy McLennan

Elliot Stultz

Sue McNally & Doug Sabetti

Swinburne Row, LLC

Sue & Peter Metzger

The Perkins Family Fund

Aquidneck Land Trust

Caterine Milinaire Cushing

Sarah Vance

Dan Benson & Dory Hamilton Benson

Marianna Baker

Maureen Mooney

Frederick & Robin Warren

Andrea & William Breyer

Diane Wilsey

Lilly Dick

Barbara & Duncan A. Chapman

Mark Muetterties, MD & Jacqueline Colbert

EJMP Fund for Philanthropy

Lyn & Peggy Comfort

Newport Garden Club

$25,000+ Alletta Morris McBean Trust Bartlett Tree Experts Citizens Charitable Foundation Helen Walker Raleigh Tree Care Trust Fund van Beuren Charitable Foundation

$10,000 - $24,999 Mary “Minnie” Coleman Virginia Decker & Colin Keith Pamela & Karl Fischer Ted & Cheryl Huffman The City of Newport The Gruben Charitable Foundation Prince Charitable Trust

$5,000 - $9,999

Susan & George Petrovas Virginia & James Purviance Rhode Island Energy PPL Foundation Rhode Island Foundation Rhode Island Foundation Newport County Fund Samuel M. & Ann S. Mencoff Foundation US Fish & Wildife Service Karl & Teryn Weintz

$1,000 - $4,999

Diana Prince

Mark Zeller

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$500 - $999 Catherine & Christopher Abbate Deanna & Mark Amorello Bank Newport Joan & Michael Beachnau Abby Benson & Dave Zader Karen & Fud Benson Richard & Dotsie Bohan Fran & Steve Booth Broden Millworks John & Elizabeth Brooks Donald Christ & Jennifer Booth George & Elisabeth Clark Holly & John Collins Robert Cowley & Didi Lorillard Matthew & Maura Cullen Matthew & Ramona Delaney Patrick Dolat & Robert Devine Liz & Emlen Drayton Elijah & Katy Duckworth-Schachter A.L. Garrison & T.W. Emmett Pamela Giroux Jean & Sid Gorham Leonard Grace & Ruth Patt Leslie Grosvenor N. Peter & Alta Hamilton Mary Joan Hoene & Stephen Seiter Stephen & Jennie Huttler Katherine Field and Associates Inc. 15

Pam Kelley Hank Kniskern Igor Kryca & Christina Gee John & Suzanna Laramee Chad Loebs Ron & Kati Machtley Robert & Heidi Manice Ward Marsh & Ingrid Henrichsen Callum & Alexa McLaughlin John Jay & Alexandra Mouligné Robert & Carol O’Donnell Samuel Obstfeld Thomas Palmer & Dominique Alfandre Bettie & Jonathan Pardee Mary Katherine & Octavius Prince Leila Ray Frank & Betsy Ray Denise & Bill Rollins Ben & Victoria Rosenthal Ernst & Nancy Rothe Susan Ruf & Michael Walsh Lorna & Jeremiah Shafir Deborah & Dave Smith TJ Brown Landscaping Julie Toland Kathleen & Bill Wallace

$100 - $499 Lorie Abromovitz Leith Adams

NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

Chuck Allott & Ellen Nichols Brian & Deborah Arnold Margaret Arpin Melissa Bachelder Blake & Donna Banky Merrilyn Bardes Nicholas Benson & Alexandra Flood Barbara Benson Bryan & Whitney Berdy Anne Marie Biernacki Martha Boksenbaum Ellen & Steven Bowman Boys and Girls Clubs of Newport County, Inc. Camilla Bradley & Joe Bardenheier Joan & Jim Breakell Parker Brickley Diana & Josiah Bunting, III Michael Burns & Livvy Dinneen David & Mary Bush-Brown Drew Carey Richard & Maggie Carmichael Sally Casey Sam & Pat Chase Ms. Jonna Chewning Kelley & Christopher Coen Rob Currier Jeff & Ginny Curtis Karen Deibert Gerard DiRuggiero

Amy Dorkin Paul & Liz Doucette Charlie Edenbach Kiki Finn Angela Fischer & Dr. Edwin Fischer, Sr. Ronald Lee Fleming Edith Fletcher Griffin & Lauren Flynn Valarie & Dana Gelb Pam Gilpin Warren & Linda Gray Toni Green Jessica Hagen June Halliday-Holden Peter Harty Michael & Mary Hayes Robert & Angela Healey George & Nannette Herrick Phyllis Higgerson Thomas Hockaday & William Martin Allan Hodges Molly Holland & Olivier David Stefani Hulitar Mary Jennings Kathleen Kelleher Ellen Kiley Maureen & David Krupa Jennifer Lauretti-Robbins

Elizabeth & William Leatherman Derek & Nicole Limbocker Karen Lloyd Grace & Thomas Loughborough Ellen Martin Ellen Washburn Martin Edith McBean Ralph & Grace McCluskey Stephanie McLennan Elizabeth & Earl McMillen Puffy & Bob Meikle Victoria Mele Michael Hayes Co. Lois Migneault & Chris Walsh Martha Moore Carlotta Morris Michael Murphy Nelumbo Water Gardens Sarah Nolan Ornamentals LLC Karen J Peirce Christopher & Janet Pell James Peterson & Katie Emmet Ben Quevedo Pamela & Chip Quinn Libby & Rocket Randall Christopher Reidy Christa Reise Peter Rice Katherine Richardson

Charlie Ridolf Barbara & Brooke Roberts Genevieve & Jeff Rozansky Turner Scott & Kathy Pratt Jocelyn & Buck Sherman Devin & Carol Skelly Scott Skuncik Nell Soper & Andy Green Rocky Steeves & Kim Comfort Paul Strattner Diana Szapary David Thalmann Pam & Chris Thomas Bruce Vanicek Willam & Alison Vareika Robert Walker Julian & Olivia Wassenaar Barnabas & Marnie Webster Sherwood & Magrieta Willard Ted & Tara Winston

Up to $99 Rebecca Bartlett Johanna Becker Anne Benson Charles Berl Dennis Bristow Elizabeth Burke Judy Byrnes Roderick Cavanagh

Kimberly Chandler Daniel Christina Nancy & David Coll Deanna Conheeny Jean Conway Cynthia Cunningham Elizabeth Dankowski Joyce DeLutis Robert & Judith Dudek Jennifer Evans Amanda Fischer Sharon & Adrian Flatgard Kathy Foulke Darius & Gale Goff Katherine Gozdur Isabel Griffith Terry & Gene Handel John & Mary Hirschboeck Leslie Jones Flatgard Rebecca Kelly & Rupert Nesbitt Maryann Kossak Andrea Kramer Linda Lapin Bruce & Marilyn Leish Allison Lentino William Leys Lorie Loughborough Ann Elise McCaffrey Donna McHenry Constance Metcalf

Middlebridge School Nancy Morton Ilse Nesbitt Maureen Neville Edna & Estelle O’Connell T.J. Perrotti Eugene & David Platt Peter Portney Susan & Jon Powers Lisa Pritchard Ann & Peter Randall Jane Rhein Pamela Rodgers Jessica Roy Brian Shanley & Susan Walsh Susan Shephard Bill & Judy Souza John James Steele David Sullivan Dennis Sullivan Chris Tompsett Elaine Trainor Lois Vaughan Eberhard & Richard Eberhard Jean Wagley Alexander Walsh & Cynthia Madden Mary Brown Warburton Laurel Watt-Aldredge Katherine Whitley Patricia Wood State of the Forest 2023

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COMMEMORATIVE TREE A commemorative tree is a wonderful way to memorialize a loved one or celebrate a special event while also contributing to the health and vibrance of Newport’s urban forest.

2023 Commemorative Plantings in Honor of: Robert A Albanese ~ requested by Jennifer Brace Admiral Augustus Case and Family ~ requested by Michael Margonis Barbara J. Colbert ~ requested by Jacqueline Colbert Gail Elizabeth Darcy ~ requested by Susan Darcy-Allen Irina Goldman ~ requested by John Michael Flowers Erin Rollins Maffei ~ requested Denise Rollins James F. McCarthy ~ requested by Kelly Santos Marc S. McHenry ~ requested by Kristyn Woodland The Newport Garden Club Members ~ requested by The Newport Garden Club The Newport Tree Conservancy ~ requested by Nancy Bills 17

NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

COMMUNITY PARTNERS Thank you to all of our community partners!

Aquidneck Land Trust

Ocean Hour Farm

Bike Newport

Redwood Library & Athenæum

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center

RI Department of Environmental Management

FabNewport

Rhode Island Environmental Education Association

Friends of King Park Island Cemetery Miantonomi Park Commission Newport Garden Club Newport Health Equity Zone

Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association Rhode Island Tree Council Salve Regina University The Blue Garden

Newport Open Space Partnership

The Met School

Newport Public Schools

T. J. Brown Inc.

Newport Restoration Foundation

University of Rhode Island Biocontrol Lab

Newport Tree and Open Space Commission

US Fish & Wildlife Service Urban Parks Partnership State of the Forest 2023

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Evening of the Arboreta Committee Members Peter & Tyler Arment

Ronald Lee Fleming

Grace McCluskey

Camilla Bradley & Joe Bardenheier

Griffin & Lauren Flynn

Sue McNally & Doug Sabetti

Abby Benson & Dave Zader

Leslie R. Grosvenor

Kaitlyn & Tristan Mouligne

Bryan & Whitney Berdy

Anne & Matt Hamilton

Robert & Carol O’Donnell

Bill & Andrea Breyer

Gray Hamilton & Eleanor Tate Trepte

Roderick O’Hanley & Richard Crisson

Josh & Jen Carney

Kerin & Charlie Hamilton

Bettie & Jonathan Pardee

Elliot Stultz & Dan Drake

Matthew & Maura Cullen

Miles Hamilton & Laura Stonerook

John Peixinho

Julia Rush Toland

Lilly Dick

Sam & Suzi Hamilton

George & Sue Petrovas

Patrick Dolat & Robert Devine

Lisa Lewis & Bart Dunbar

James & Virginia Purviance

Liz & Paul Doucette

Grace & Thomas Loughborough

Libby & Rocket Randall

Julia & Sean Driscoll

Callum & Alexa MacLaughlin

Andrew & Tara Reilly

Katy & Elijah Duckworth-Schachter

Charlotte & Paul Marshall

Andy & Isabelle Ridall

Ben & Vicki Rosenthal

Genevieve & Jeff Rozansky

Nick & Indira Schorsch

Nell Soper & Andy Green

Andrea van Beuren & Roger Kass

Olivia & Julian Wassenaar

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NEWPORT TREE CONSERVANCY

Nicholson & Janine Willard

Ted & Tara Winston

Event Photos

State of the Forest 2023

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PO Box 863 Newport, RI 02840

(401) 324-9204 newporttreeconservancy.org