What is Greening the Gateway Cities?
Neighborhoods of Leominster have been selected as part of a state-wide program to increase tree canopy cover. With more trees in Leominster, our community will reduce home energy use for heating and cooling – resulting in cheaper heating and AC bills. As part of the Greening the Gateway Cities Program (GGCP), experienced Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) foresters will visit Leominster homes and businesses to recommend the best trees for each property. The trees are planted in April – June and September – November by a crew of trained professionals. More than 50 different varieties of tree species are offered. Each tree will be about 6-8 feet tall at the time of planting, depending on the species.
Growing Places organizes outreach efforts and educational programming for GGCP. Our goal is to connect the community to the urban forest all around them.
GGCP is a partnership among the:
- Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
- DCR Urban & Community Forestry program
- Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and
- Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
Follow us to stay up to date on Greening the Gateway Cities:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GGCLeominster/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ggcleominster/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGCLeominster
Who is eligible?
Residents of Leominster who live within the planting zone below are eligible for free trees:
Get Involved!
To get your free tree, call (617) 626-1514
Volunteer
Help spread the word: Help us spread the word about the Greening the Gateway Cities free tree-planting initiative. We’re looking for volunteers who are excited about trees, environmental sustainability or environmental justice, and have an interest in door-to-door canvassing. Be a part of “greening” Leominster!
Interested in volunteering? Contact Ashley Hoffman, Greening the Gateway Cities Coordinator at ashley@growingplaces.org or (978) 598-3723 x806.
Learn
Growing Places offers a variety of seasonal tree-themed educational opportunities, including tree identification walks, tree care workshops and other tree activities. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media to stay up to date on these tree happenings.
Why trees?
Research demonstrates that there are many benefits of urban trees:
- Save money: Just 3-4 trees strategically located around a house can cut summer cooling costs by 30-40%!
- Cool down: The net cooling effect of a tree is equal to 10 room-sized air conditioners operating 20 hours per day.
- Healthy families: Kids in tree-lined neighborhoods have lower rates of ADD and asthma.
- Improve quality of life: Trees beautify neighborhoods and reduce speeding and crime, improving quality of life.
- Reduce noise: Tree-lined streets reduce noise pollution by absorbing sounds and slowing down traffic.
- Add value: Trees and vegetation can raise property values by up to 37%
Get your free tree today!