Tree City USA
Arbor Day Foundation Honor
For thirty-three years Manchester-by-the-Sea has been honored with the designation of 'Tree City USA' by the national Arbor Day Foundation. To qualify as a Tree City USA community, a town or city must meet four standards established by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters.
-
A Tree Board or Department (Friends of Manchester Trees)
-
A Tree Care Ordinance (Our Town Tree Policy)
-
A Community Forestry Program with an Annual Budget of at Least $2 Per Capita
-
An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation
​
Arbor Day Annual Select Board Proclamation
The Friends of Manchester Trees has assisted the town each year in its successful application for this honor. As part of this program, the Friends of Manchester Trees asks the Select Board to proclaim Arbor Day in Manchester every April.
John Round, MBTS Selectman, reads Proclamation on Arbor Day, 2025 at Memorial Elementary School before the fifth
grade class.
​
John Round, MBTS Selectman
Emily Lyons, FOMT Director
On Arbor Day a Red Maple was planted at Memorial Elementary which was selected as a northeast native named for its tiny red flowers in early spring and its brilliant red autumn leaves. It is an important food source for a variety of pollinators and wildlife. ​The Friends of Manchester Trees understand the importance of protecting our pollinator-friendly plantings. Emily Lyons, FOMT Director, selects the Arbor Day planting and whose guidance each year ensures that the town continues to meet and exceed the Tree City USA four standards, a distinction that reflects the town’s unwavering commitment to community forestry and environmental stewardship.