LYNN — An informational session was held to update the community on the creation of a tree committee, in which Lynn residents expressed excitement about their participation in the development of an urban forest plan. Last month, an interest survey was sent out to the community by the city, asking residents if they would like a tree committee, and if so, who should sit on it, and what its goals should be. Erica Holm, the City’s urban forestry fellow, said 41 people replied to the tree committee interest form, the majority of whom were property owners in Lynn.
Holm said of those who responded to the survey, the most popular response for the goals of the committee was to have members help with tree planting. She said she would be happy to help community members learn more about tree planting. “We could do some pruning trainings, some planting trainings,” she said.
“We can really bring people up to speed, who may not be urban foresters, on how we can make these little changes to what we’re doing to keep trees on the landscape for much longer than they would be if we just rushed at doing all the work with with no plan.” She said other popular responses were to have committee members advocate for better urban forestry and advise city staff on urban forestry plans. Holm added that a lot of the respondents wanted the committee to educate the public on the value of trees.
“I think the mission of the tree committee in Lynn will be to preserve, protect and promote the urban forest here in Lynn,” she said. Holm also noted that responses reflected an exuberance for Lynn’s urban forestry efforts. “People care about the beauty and the value of their communities,” she said.
“So when you plant trees along the whole street, you can change the entire character of that street. You can reduce crime on that street. You can increase the feelings of happiness and mental health, and you can increase people’s physical activity, because the street is just a nicer place to be on.
” The meetings will be once a month and will likely be virtual, she said. Lynn resident Susan Brown said she was interested in how the committee could reach out to the schools to begin the education on tree health as early as they can. “My special interest is the youth, and of education right from the beginning of getting folks out into nature,” she said.
Holm said an idea is to get education professionals involved and to have an education subgroup of the committee..
