The City of New London held our annual Arbor Day Celebration May 6.
Several months before the event, the Park and Recreation Department invited the local fifth grade classes to make posters in honor of Arbor Day with the theme “Trees are Terrific…In Cities and Towns!” At the celebration we presented three winners from each class/school – 15 winners total – with a small tree.
Tracy Salisbury from the Wisconsin DNR was also present to award New London with its eighteenth consecutive Tree City USA award. Four requirements must be met to be recognized as a Tree City USA. These include having a designated tree board or forestry department, having an annual forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, having a tree care ordinance, and hosting an Arbor Day Celebration and Proclamation.
Following the award presentation, several staff members from Ranger Services Inc. were on hand to explain the history of Arbor Day and the importance of trees in the urban forestry setting.
The event ended with the students learning the proper way to plant a tree by planting two new serviceberry trees at Hatten Park. These trees were chosen as they produce berries which are bird friendly, and assist in our Bird City Wisconsin Award.