Thank you, supporting arborists!

By Kris Day

We at Friends of Trees talk a lot about the importance of building community. And so today, we’d like to say thank you to an essential part of our professional community.  From helping train new summer tree inspectors to donating mulch to help prepare trees for the hot summer season, our local arborists help us provide top-notch service to our customers and volunteers alike.

Two weeks ago, we held our first-ever Community Tree Care training, with 30 new Pruning Leaders fully trained at the end of the day.  With the help of municipal and private arborists,  small group demonstrations and hands-on guidance helped trainees apply the thinking and techniques shared during the overview presentation and walk provided by Larry Maginnis of PP&R’s Urban Forestry Division.  And huge thanks to the many of you who also participated in the Pilot Pruning Project that was held last December—the predecessor to this new tree care program.

But it’s not just pruning! Arborists have shared their passion for trees and our urban forest for many years at our annual Neighborhood Trees Crew Leader and Summer Inspector Trainings.  The support of professionals helps provide a foundation to the methods and approaches Friends of Trees uses to accomplish the work we’re doing in our communities.  The friendly know-how, leadership, and the occasional use of your trucks you offer during planting events is especially appreciated—by other Crew Leaders, by the general public, and certainly by the FOT staff!

If you would like to learn more about how your business can be  listed on our website as an official Friends of Trees Supporting Arborist, please contact Greg Tudor at 503-467-2512 ([email protected]) for more details.

Kris is a certified arborist and Green Space Initiative Senior Specialist with Friends of Trees.