Worcester Tree Initiativea Program of Tower Hill Botanic Garden |
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the mission |
Starting in spring 2016 Worcester Tree Initiative teamed up with the Green Hill Park Coalition to help restore a living World War I memorial, Memorial Grove in Green Hill Park in Worcester. This grove was designed to honor the 380 soldiers and 2 nurses from Worcester who lost their lives in the ‘War to end all Wars’. The project is ongoing but nearing completion.
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the history |
World War I ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The United States was involved in this global conflict for approximately a year. Relatively speaking we suffered few casualties compared to the European nations. Worcester residents alone suffered 382 deaths and a large proportion were immigrants or 1st born.
Following the war, American Legion Post 5 of Worcester decided to construct a living memorial to these citizens by planting a rock maple for each soldier, sailor, Marine and nurse. This grove was planted on Crown Hill in Green Hill Park. The trees were planted in straight rows, 30 feet apart to represent a military cemetery. They then attached a bronze plaque to each tree with the name of the person engraved on it. This grove had a place of quiet where each year Memorial Day ceremonies were conducted following an assembly on City Hall grounds and a procession to the grove. The gateway still stands at the start of the flagstone walkway to the grove. Imagine the stoic rows of trees stoically standing rank and file as you approach from the gate. And imagine the beauty of 382 beautiful maple trees as their leaves all turn, creating a vast sea of orange along the hillside in the fall. Over time things gradually changed. As World War I veterans died the ceremonies ceased to be held. The grove fell into neglect and abuse. The amphitheater was not originally there, it was added later. Trees started to die but most were not replanted. Now a vanguard of trees remain around the wooded edges but gradually thins out as you head up the hill until you're in a wide open field. Of the 382 maples that were planted, 178 remain. |
progress |
A large part of the restoration project is replanting the 214 trees that have died over the years. Unfortunately, due to the Asian Longhorned Beetle, which has had a massive impact on the neighborhoods around this part of Green Hill Park, we are unable to replant with the original Sugar Maple. However, we are moving ahead with a plan to replant that will introduce more diversity into the grove and reflect the trees of New England's forests. In the spring of 2016 we planted the first cohort of 39 trees.
After each planting, Worcester Tree Initiative and the Green Hill Park Coalition water and maintain these trees to ensure that they establish well. During spring of 2016 Worcester Tree Initiative and the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation worked with Green Hill Park Coalition to plant 38 trees. Then Worcester Tree Initiative and Green Hill Park Coalition watered these trees, mostly by using buckets, so that they would survive our hot, dry summer. The trees currently look healthy and well cared for. In addition to the planting Green Hill Park Coalition, spearheaded by Brian McCarthy, has coordinated the liberation of the surviving maples from undergrowth that had grown up around them. He has also coordinated the removal of the aged and unused amphitheater in hopes of restoring the grove's original layout. The park has been transformed in the past 6 months and there's much more to come. |
up next |
Tree Planting : May 3, 2019
On May 3rd we will plant the final 22 trees needed to complete the more than 300 tree grove commemorating the soldiers and nurses from Worcester who gave their life in World War I now more than 100 years ago. Completion of the Memorial with names of all those who gave their lives to the cause is planned for summer 2019. Dedication of the Memorial to follow. |
support |
If you would like to help with this project, we always welcome volunteers and donations for trees (cost for a tree is $150). Donations can be made to Worcester Tree Initiative on the Tower Hill Botanic Garden Website using the button below. If you want to flag your donation specifically for this project please write to us to let us know of your donation so we can set it aside for this purpose. Any help is appreciated for this wonderful memorial in Worcester.
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