Volunteers needed to create tree inventory in Barrington

Phase one focuses on Primrose, Sherwood, Bay Spring, Alfred Drown

Posted 5/20/22

The Town of Barrington is looking for volunteers to help create a new comprehensive inventory of town trees.  

The survey will help the town manage its trees by providing important …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Volunteers needed to create tree inventory in Barrington

Phase one focuses on Primrose, Sherwood, Bay Spring, Alfred Drown

Posted

The Town of Barrington is looking for volunteers to help create a new comprehensive inventory of town trees. 

The survey will help the town manage its trees by providing important information on the current health of the urban forest — data needed to prioritize future tree planting and maintenance projects.

The tree inventory volunteers will be in the community conducting data collection from May through August. Volunteers will be organized into three teams, each responsible for mapping their assigned survey area. There are a total of 15 mapped areas of the town and phase one of the project will focus on the Primrose, Sherwood, and Bay Spring/Alfred Drowne areas. The George Street area was completed during the training session. Crews will have safety vests, Town of Barrington mapped areas, and a handout with details about the program. 

According to Mark Hengen, an urban forest expert and professor at Johnson and Wales University, “The main goal of a street tree inventory is to maximize public benefits while minimizing public cost in managing street trees as a vital community resource.” 

Community participation is key to this initiative. Part of the tree inventory outreach campaign consists of contacting community neighbors, friends and organizations to assist by volunteering to participate in collecting valuable data (number of trees, species, location, size and condition). The goal is to create a database of an estimated 8,000 trees on its 458 streets.

“This project is a great opportunity to contribute toward making Barrington a more resilient community by providing the Town the tools to improve and maintain its tree canopy—essential to mitigate the effects of a changing climate,” Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey said. 

Volunteers should anticipate a time commitment of no more than four hours per field outing and up to 20 total hours over the two-to-three-month time frame, mostly weekends and some weekdays, based on availability. Volunteers do not need to be an expert (all skill levels are welcome). Materials/handouts will be provided to assist with tree identification, and the organizers will contact all volunteers to schedule virtual and in-person training at a later date. 

Anyone interested in volunteering should visit the town’s website at www.barrington.ri.gov/treeinventory to complete the sign-up form along with a mandatory volunteer waiver form. Those under 14 must be accompanied by an adult and they must provide their written consent. 

Anyone with questions or concerns should email barringtontreeinventory@gmail.com

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.