Rockingham Times

PORTSMOUTH—The National Arbor Day Foundation has named Portsmouth a “Tree City” for more than 20 consecutive years, thanks to annual efforts to plant and care for the City's urban forest of more than 15,000 trees.

In 2023, the Department of Public Works will celebrate the City’s 400th anniversary by planting 400 trees: 100 that are part of the usual annual enhancement of the City's urban forest, an additional 100 trees donated by Portsmouth Rotary to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2023 and 200 more trees that will be made available for local residents to plant at their homes or businesses.

Portsmouth Rotary has announced the donation of $15,000 for the trees and $15,000 for accessibility improvements to Portsmouth playgrounds as part of its $100,000 commitment to the community in celebration of its 100th anniversary in 2023.

In 1876, the City of Portsmouth celebrated the nation's 100th birthday with the dedication of Langdon Park on the bank of South Mill Pond and the planting of 100 trees by the community. For the 400th, the City again welcomes local citizens to take part in the project.

DPW and the State Urban Forestry Center have placed an order for 200 trees, divided in lots of four different varieties selected for their suitability for City neighborhoods. Residents (first come, first served) who agree to plant and care for one of these trees will receive a cloth bag containing a 4-to-6-foot sapling, an appropriate amount of compost to help prepare the ground for the tree and instructions on planting and caring for the new tree.

Residents interested in receiving one of these trees for planting on their private property should sign up at: https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/publicworks/400-trees-400th. They will be notified in April, once a date is selected for a tree-planting workshop and pickup at the Urban Forestry Center.

The DPW Parks & Greenery Division has also created an instructional “how to plant a tree” video, now posted to the City website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kjXsRT3F7E.

For information about the City’s urban forest and its Tree Protection and Planting guidelines, please visit: https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/publicworks/parksandgreenery/urban-forestry.

CAPTION: The City of Portsmouth celebrated Arbor Day in 2022 by planting trees around the city.
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