Arbor Day of Service ’ 23 is on Friday , April 28
MAA Gives Back on Arbor Day of Service
For more than 40 years , MAA members have celebrated Arbor Day on the last Friday in April , gathering together to volunteer services across the Commonwealth . Each year MAA members make significant donations of time and expertise in their local communities and at larger projects throughout the state – making a tremendous impact at the sites where they volunteer . What ’ s more , their efforts increase public awareness of quality tree care and the tree care industry . In short — it ’ s our favorite day of the year !
Arbor Day Group Celebration
This year ’ s biennial group celebration will be held at William Francis Bird Park in Walpole , MA . Kevin Cleveland , MCA , and Russell Holman , MCA , co-chairs of the Arbor Day of Service committee , along with an enthusiastic team from The Trustees have developed a comprehensive plan to provide muchneeded tree work at this well-loved community park .
The 89-acre Bird Park was created and endowed in 1925 by local industrialist Charles Sumner Bird , Sr . and his wife Anna in memory of their eldest son , Francis William Bird who died seven years earlier .
A visit to Bird Park is a detour into nature with its rolling fields lined by mature shade trees , a trio of ponds , and granite bridges over gurgling brooks . This family-friendly park is a testament to landscape designer John Nolen — a disciple of Frederick Law Olmsted — and his belief that a mixture of relaxation and active play should be parts of the park experience . In his original design plan , Nolen wrote that this park should be , “... a sequestered breathing place in the heart of East Walpole ... a combination of broad , sun-swept meadowlands , speckled with shadowed glades , higher tree-screened knolls for the lover of shade , the whole set to the music of a babbling stream .”
“ Bird Park offers an excellent opportunity for MAA members to get together for an enjoyable volunteer work day ,” said Arbor Day of Service co-chair Russell Holman , MCA . “ We ’ ll focus on tree preservation , pruning and plant health care . Everyone is welcome to lend a hand at Bird Park on April 28 .”
MAA ’ s Arbor Day Celebration plans include a morning of tree work , midday lunch and other festivities to recognize our member volunteers .
MAA ’ s Executive Director Virginia Wood , Rip Tomkins , MCA , Mike Jermone , MCA and Bruce Duffy , MCA at Arbor Day of Service 2021 .
Staying local ? We ’ re here to help
While all members are invited to volunteer at Bird Park in Walpole , we know that some members enjoy donating their time to projects in their local community . We ’ d love to hear your plans ! In addition , several non-profit community organizations have reached out expressing a need for tree services . MAA will be working to connect members with a site in need in their vicinity .
Want to get involved ?
If you ’ re planning to volunteer on Arbor Day , at Bird Park or elsewhere , please visit MassArbor . org / ArborDay to complete the “ Tell Us Your Plans ” form . If you have any questions at all , please contact Charissa Sharkey at csharkey @ MassArbor . org .
Whatever way you decide to celebrate Arbor Day 2023 , the MAA is happy to promote your involvement and provide resources such as signs , stickers , sample news releases and more .
4 MAA NEWS SPRING 2023