Mission
The Buckland Historical Society’s Hilltown Legacy Tree Project (HLTP) seeks to conserve traditionally significant tree species and woody plant communities in Buckland, MA and adjacent hilltowns of Western Franklin County.
Whereas many tree species that have played a significant role in the socio-economic history of New England are in decline, threatened, or virtually extinct due to pest infestation, disease, or other causes, and traditionally scenic byways and plant communities of social, ecological, and historic significance are at risk of being lost, it is the mission of the HLTP to steward existing and future trees of such esteem so as to conserve their place in our community in order that future generations may enjoy their many benefits.
The Hilltown Legacy Tree Project’s objectives are to:
Whereas many tree species that have played a significant role in the socio-economic history of New England are in decline, threatened, or virtually extinct due to pest infestation, disease, or other causes, and traditionally scenic byways and plant communities of social, ecological, and historic significance are at risk of being lost, it is the mission of the HLTP to steward existing and future trees of such esteem so as to conserve their place in our community in order that future generations may enjoy their many benefits.
The Hilltown Legacy Tree Project’s objectives are to:
- Caretake existing trees of traditional significance
- Expand the population of traditional, native tree species through planting, monitoring and maintenance of new roadside tree installations
- Engage multi-generational stewardship teams to co-operatively manage street tree health
- In rural areas and forested landscapes, maintain the integrity of our scenic New England byways and non-timber forest product –generating species (i.e. maple -syrup, chestnut-nuts, oak – mushroom growing, fir/spruce boughs, tips and trees for holiday decorating etc.) via forest stewardship management planning and vista conservation
- Promote the transfer of scientific and social technology regarding the care of trees in both urban and rural ecosystems
- Partner with the town Tree Warden(s) to grow the community’s tree-care program
Check out the map of plantings as of yet! Date and species planted listed as well as the tree's sponsor.
BUCKLAND’S HILLTOWN LEGACY TREE PROJECT RECEIVES LIBERTY TREE MEMORIAL AWARD - 6/10/09
Disease Resistant Liberty Elm to be Planted and Dedicated at Riverfest
Members of a Mohawk Trail Regional Middle School science class will help plant and care for a 14-foot-tall elm tree on a patch of land in front of the Salmon Falls Artisan Showroom overlooking the Deerfield River in Buckland. The dedication of the tree will happen during Riverfest, the celebration of the Deerfield River, at noon on June 13. The public is invited to the dedication of this large tree. Several local and state politicians and school officials have been invited to attend. The town received a Liberty Tree Memorial grant through the Elm Research Institute, a New England nonprofit.
The Buckland Historical Society’s Hilltown Legacy Tree Project (HLTP) initiated the planting. It recently planted an elm tree at Buckland Shelburne Elementary School and one in Upper Buckland. Wayne Kermenski’s seventh grade StemRays club have dug holes for trees and have been taking care of trees that the HLTP has bought through grants from the Buckland and Shelburne Cultural Councils. The Mohawk students also will care for the trees in their first two years as they become established.
Because of the grant, Buckland has been named a Liberty Tree Memorial town. Over the past 10 years, more than 300 towns have been granted this designation.
The HLTP seeks to conserve traditionally significant tree species and woody plant communities in Buckland and adjacent hilltowns of Western Franklin County. To have an elm tree planted at your home or business, or to make a donation.
Disease Resistant Liberty Elm to be Planted and Dedicated at Riverfest
Members of a Mohawk Trail Regional Middle School science class will help plant and care for a 14-foot-tall elm tree on a patch of land in front of the Salmon Falls Artisan Showroom overlooking the Deerfield River in Buckland. The dedication of the tree will happen during Riverfest, the celebration of the Deerfield River, at noon on June 13. The public is invited to the dedication of this large tree. Several local and state politicians and school officials have been invited to attend. The town received a Liberty Tree Memorial grant through the Elm Research Institute, a New England nonprofit.
The Buckland Historical Society’s Hilltown Legacy Tree Project (HLTP) initiated the planting. It recently planted an elm tree at Buckland Shelburne Elementary School and one in Upper Buckland. Wayne Kermenski’s seventh grade StemRays club have dug holes for trees and have been taking care of trees that the HLTP has bought through grants from the Buckland and Shelburne Cultural Councils. The Mohawk students also will care for the trees in their first two years as they become established.
Because of the grant, Buckland has been named a Liberty Tree Memorial town. Over the past 10 years, more than 300 towns have been granted this designation.
The HLTP seeks to conserve traditionally significant tree species and woody plant communities in Buckland and adjacent hilltowns of Western Franklin County. To have an elm tree planted at your home or business, or to make a donation.
Sponsorships
In 2009 HLTP offered to plant six foot Dutch Elm Disease resistant Liberty Elm street trees in area towns. To guarantee the success of these majestic trees, we provided participants with the following services:
Continuing the efforts begun in 2009, HLTP is continued to plant and maintain disease resistant elm trees in 2010. With an award from both the Buckland and Shelburne Local Cultural Councils, the Project planted a tree in a public way in each community.
- Students from Mohawk Trail Middle School, supervised by their teacher, dug a hole, tested the soil for significant macro-nutrients and pH, add necessary organic fertilizers and limestone, and planted the elm trees.
- An OozeTube irrigation bladder was installed around the trees in order to adequately water and train the new trees for the first growing season.
- Data was taken, such as height, address and GPS coordinates location, and was filed with the Liberty Elm Tree Institute.
- Participant's tree came with a lifetime warranty against Dutch Elm Disease, and two years of monitoring.
- Participants received a certificate of dedication to keep or gift, which announces the tree’s location and person or organization for whom the tree was planted.
Continuing the efforts begun in 2009, HLTP is continued to plant and maintain disease resistant elm trees in 2010. With an award from both the Buckland and Shelburne Local Cultural Councils, the Project planted a tree in a public way in each community.
The Wilder Homestead Heritage Maple and an Arbor Day Tradition
|
Some of you might have noticed in the Weekend Recorder on May 1st the front-page article, ‘Arborist Helps Preserve Historic Tree.’
BHS Trustee and Director of the Hilltown Legacy Tree Project, Staci Kontrabecki, orchestrated the event with Silbert “Woody” Lanoue of Lanoue Tree and Landscaping of Colrain. Lanoue has donated time and resources each Arbor Day to the preservation of local trees and landscapes. This year he donated half the cost of work for the pruning and stabilization of the approximately 160-year old sugar maple. Stacy applied for a matching grant from the DCR (Dept. of Conservation and Recreation) and received $1,900 for the tree’s preservation. Stacy also applied the tree for legacy recognition in DCR’s Legacy Tree Program which formally recognizes the largest and most interesting known tree of each species, trees of historical origins, and other trees of unique and significant importance. She was told it automatically qualified for recognition and would be added to the department’s data base. We believe this tree to be planted by Lorenzo Wilder and his younger brother, Joseph. These brothers fought on opposite sides in the U.S. Civil War. In a letter to his parents in Buckland, which was given to the Society by Wilder descendants, Lorenzo asked about the trees that had been planted at the homestead. “Are those maple trees that Joseph and I planted still alive? I hope they are.” Lorenzo survived the War and moved on to Texas while Joseph died of disease in New Orleans. |
|
Wilder Homestead Forestry Management
|
|
BUCKLAND, MA SELECTMEN PROCLAIM TOWN ARBOR DAY 4/30/10
Town of Buckland Arbor Day Proclamation
Whereas, In 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees, and
Whereas, This holiday, called Arbor Day, was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska, and
Whereas, Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world, and
Whereas, Trees can reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce life-giving oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife, and
Whereas, Trees are a renewable resource giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires and countless other wood products, and
Whereas, Trees in our town increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community, and
Whereas, Trees, wherever they are planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal.
Now, therefore, we, the selectmen of the Town of Buckland, Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim, April 30th as Arbor Day in the town of Buckland, and we urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and our woodlands, and further, we urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well being of this and future generations.
Signed Tuesday April 27, 2010
Whereas, In 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees, and
Whereas, This holiday, called Arbor Day, was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska, and
Whereas, Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world, and
Whereas, Trees can reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce life-giving oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife, and
Whereas, Trees are a renewable resource giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires and countless other wood products, and
Whereas, Trees in our town increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community, and
Whereas, Trees, wherever they are planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal.
Now, therefore, we, the selectmen of the Town of Buckland, Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim, April 30th as Arbor Day in the town of Buckland, and we urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and our woodlands, and further, we urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well being of this and future generations.
Signed Tuesday April 27, 2010
Gallery of trees
Buckland Historical Society — Box 88 — Buckland, Massachusetts 01338 — (413) 625-9763 — Copyright © 2019