Plantings on West Springfield Town Common win recognition

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The West Springfield Town Common has earned Level I Accreditation from the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program.

The program is said to be the only global initiative that recognizes arboreta, collections of trees and shrubs, at various levels.

The award shows the town has met standards for arboreta and botanic gardens.

To celebrate, a special event will be held on Earth Day, April 22, at 11 a.m. on the Town Common. The Tree and Urban Forest Committee (TUFC), led by Tree Warden Marcus Catlett, applied for the award last year to mark the town's 250th anniversary.

"All trees on the eastern end of the Town Common have tags (funded by the West Springfield Rotary Club) with their common name, botanical name, and a QR code for more information," Catlett said in a statement Wednesday.

TUFC and Catlett aim to teach people about the importance of trees as well as add variety to West Springfield's tree canopy, which mostly has maple trees. Healthy tree species are selected, even though nurseries have limited options, he said.

Catlett said the Town Common is now home to many different trees, including dawn redwood, slippery elm, tamarack, various types of maples, oaks, tulip trees, elms, spruces, London planetree, and serviceberry.

Several American dogwoods were planted around the fountain by the churches and mosque to celebrate the town's 250th anniversary last fall.

Some trees on the Town Common are dedicated to people who have helped with the town's forestry, like Seth Swift, a leader in urban tree care in Massachusetts and former tree warden of West Springfield, Catlett said.

The Tree and Urban Forest Committee was started by former Mayor Ed Sullivan in 2015 to take care of West Springfield's trees.

Mayor William C. Reichelt has continued the work by hiring Catlett and adding a team to manage the tree canopy along the town's streets and parks.

Urban forest panel members are also part of the West Springfield Tree Committee, a volunteer group that protects and expands the town's tree canopy. The committee welcomes new members.

Anyone interested in taking part is encouraged to contact Pat Garbacik . Volunteers can help with tree trimming, publicity, communication, education, Arbor Day and Earth Day events and pursuing grants.