Category: News

In early November, the Greenwich Tree Conservancy planted eight new trees at the Cos Cob Railroad Station parking lot, a commuter hub on the New Haven Line of the Metro-North Railroad. Serving residents traveling to New York City and other destinations along the line, the station is one of Greenwich’s primary public transportation centers.

Its parking lots were found to contain substantial unused space suitable for additional trees, including areas where trees once stood but were never replaced after removal.

The Greenwich Tree Conservancy selected the Cos Cob Station parking lot as the latest site in its Parking Parks initiative, which has brought shade and beauty to municipal lots across Greenwich. Unshaded parking lots are major contributors to the urban heat island effect. Air temperatures in full-sun lots can be 4–8°F higher, while the surface temperature of unshaded asphalt can soar nearly 40°F hotter than shaded surfaces. Inside unshaded parked cars, temperatures can spike by as much as 50°F when compared to cars parked under trees.

The eight newly planted trees will help reduce these extreme temperature swings and also improve stormwater management, which is an important benefit for an area that experiences frequent flooding during severe storms. Trees are also important for softening the appearance of parking lots, which can otherwise prove unsightly in suburban neighborhoods.

This planting emphasized native species and trees well-suited to the demanding conditions typical of parking lots. The selected varieties include Kentucky coffee tree, scarlet oak, swamp white oak, and Shumard oak.

Read the full article in the Greenwich Sentinel

By Cheryl Dunson

I subscribe to a site called Wordsmith.org and each day I receive a new word. I thoroughly enjoy receiving a word each day and learning of its etymology and usage. A recent word was one that I knew too well: arboricide. According to the site, the earliest documented use was in 1899 and it is derived from Latin: arbor- for tree and -cide for killing, ie, killing a tree.

Sometimes the killing of a tree is intentional and other times it is not. In all cases, you cannot “unchop” a tree. Even dead trees – as long as they don’t pose a hazard to property and people – can be beneficial, for example, as a nesting or food source for wildlife as well as source of artistic appreciation. Has anyone seen the beautiful carved eagle at St. Mary’s/Putnam cemetery created from a dead tree trunk?

So what are some things homeowners can keep in mind about their trees?

• The location of trees to each other is very important because trees protect each other. Extensive clearing of trees weakens and can kill more than just the trees that are removed. Trees also can be weakened by landscape work which is not done properly. For example. trees can suffer when weed-whacking devices damage the trunks of trees or when mulch is improperly applied creating mulch “volcanoes.”
• Diversity helps to protect your trees. Plant a variety of trees rather than planting many of the same kind. According to the CT Protective Tree Association the increasing list of invasive insects “is a list of many of the most serious biological threats to our trees and forests.” Invasive insects such the emerald ash borer and spotted lantern fly have ravaged not just Greenwich but communities across the country. Just like financial portfolios our tree plantings need to be diverse.
• Plan for any construction impacts by talking to your architect, landscape designer and/or contractor to identify which trees you want to save and create a plan to protect them. A layperson’s rule of thumb is that the “critical root zone” extends at least as far as the canopy drip line – the breadth of the canopy you see generally reflects the breadth of the roots below. An effective plan should include strategies to avoid impacts such as compaction (eg, avoid stacking equipment and heavy materials underneath trees), damage from machinery (avoid repeatedly driving over the roots of trees), cutting roots when installing utility pipes. One highly visible protection method is to install sturdy protective fences as far out from the trunks of trees as possible to protect the root systems.
• The benefits of healthy trees are myriad. Most have heard of the environmental benefits of trees such as the filtering of air, water, and noise pollution and supporting diverse wildlife. Trees also provide financial benefits such as reducing flooding impacts by absorbing rain through their leaf systems and roots, providing shade which can significantly reduce utility bills, and increasing property values by as much as 20%. Add to this, the growing body of research on the benefits of trees and green spaces in our everyday lives to our physical and mental well-being such as reducing stress, boosting the immune system, accelerating recovery from injury or illness, lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes, reducing aggression, and improving longevity. And as GTC Executive Director Kate Dzikiewicz spotlighted in her recent Sentinel article, research is also showing that trees that are part of the school campus can enhance children’s ability to manage stress, concentrate, and stay motivated. In a 2021 WBUR Radio Boston interview, Dr. Howard Frumkin, Professor Emeritus, University of Washington School of Public Health observed “Proximity to trees is associated with a ridiculously broad range of health benefits. I wish we had pills that were this good for health.” (https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/the-health-benefits-of-trees/)

Richard Louv, who wrote Last Child in the Woods, noted “Biologically, we are all still hunters and gatherers, and there is something in us we do not fully understand that needs immersion in nature.” We are fortunate to live in a town with an extensive leafy canopy on public and private lands. As homeowners, we should not take our trees for granted and periodically should give them some attention. We can speak to landscape or tree professionals about care for our newly installed trees as well as those that are well established. Trees like people are susceptible to age, disease, maltreatment, and extreme weather, and a little TLC can go a long way to preserving a tree and the benefits it provides. Remember you can’t unchop a tree.

Cheryl Dunson
Advisory Board Co-Chair, Greenwich Tree Conservancy

Read the full article on the Greenwich Sentinel here

By Kate Dzikiewicz

September is back to school season here in Greenwich, and to celebrate, the Greenwich Tree Conservancy recently planted thirteen new trees on the Glenville School campus to welcome in our returning students.

Trees provide countless benefits wherever they are. They filter harmful pollutants from the air, improve neighborhood health, and enhance community wellbeing. Around schools, however, trees offer unique advantages that directly support students’ learning and development, which makes planting and preserving them on campuses especially important.

One fascinating study, led by Dr. Ming Kuo at the University of Illinois, explored the connection between greenery and children’s academic performance. Her research looked at the impact of trees, shrubs, and grasses on student outcomes, while also considering demographic factors such as income that might play a role.

She found that among all types of landscape plants, trees had the greatest impact on student achievement. Students at schools with more trees performed better in math than those at schools with fewer, and she is not alone in this finding. Other studies have revealed that schools where students could see trees from the cafeteria had higher graduation rates and received more academic awards. In neighborhoods with greater tree cover, standardized test scores were also consistently higher, even after accounting for other demographic differences that impact student success.

Why are trees so beneficial for learning? Academic performance depends on more than curriculum and teacher ability. A student’s ability to concentrate, manage stress, and stay motivated are all important to their overall learning and have been shown to improve when students are able to see trees around the schoolyard. Classrooms with green surroundings help children focus more effectively, reduce stress, and create a calmer atmosphere that supports learning.

At Glenville School, the new plantings were chosen from our Connecticut native species, including six of Connecticut’s twelve native oaks. Oaks are especially valuable in local ecosystems and support a wide variety of wildlife. Blue jays rely on their acorns, chickadees feed on the caterpillars that live on oak leaves, and countless insects and birds depend on them throughout the year. These new trees will not only contribute to student success, but will also invite birds, butterflies, and other pollinators onto the school grounds.

As a community, we instinctively recognize the restorative effect of nature. Scientific research now reinforces what many have long felt, that even a view of trees from a window makes a measurable difference in our state of mind. With each new planting, the Greenwich Tree Conservancy hopes to create more peaceful, supportive, and inspiring learning environments. We look forward to continuing to add trees to school campuses across town, fostering healthier habitats and brighter futures for Greenwich students.

Kate Dzikiewicz
Executive Director, Greenwich Tree Conservancy

View the article in the Greenwich Sentinel here

By Greenwich Free Press

A group of about 50 people gathered at First Church of Round Hill in back country for the dedication of a newly planted tree in honor of John R. Conte Jr. Mr. Conte was president of Greenwich Tree Conservancy when he died unexpectedly on April 22, 2025.

Leslie Lee, interim president of the Greenwich Tree Conservancy, said the tree was planted in loving memory of Mr. Conte.

She shared a message from GTC founder Peter Malkin, who said that Conte shared a special combination of landscape expertise and social responsibility.

“His redesign of Greenwich Common and his concern for public spaces throughout the town complimented his many beautiful private property landscapes,” Malkin said.

The newly planted tree was selected by the town tree warden, Dr. Greg Kramer is a Valley Forge Elm.

“This may look like a little guy right now, but it is disease resistant and will grow quickly – up to three feet a year – when fully grown it will measure up to 70 feet high with a canopy spread of 60 feet, a magnificent tribute to John for many years.”

The tree was acquired by Sam Bridge Nursery and planting donated by Conte & Conte.

Ms Lee showed a facsimile of a bronze plaque that will be permanently installed in the base of the newly planted tree in Mr. Conte’s honor.

The tree was planted behind the stump of a mature Elm Tree that had died and was taken down over the summer.

Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan read a proclamation from the Board of Selectmen describing John R. Cone Jr’s contributions to the Town of Greenwich. Conte was a licensed arborist who grew a family business into Fairfield House and Garden, specializing in landscape construction and fine home building before founding Conte and Conte, offering Landscape Architecture and Engineering Design that helped make Greenwich a greener community.

He served on the Greenwich Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Agency and the town’s Architectural Review Committee.

He also served as President of the Greenwich Tree Conservancy, Greenwich Green & Clean and the Round Hill Association. He was on the board of Family Centers, the Greenwich Chapter of the Boy Scouts, the Greenwich Land Trust and Greenwich Audubon.

John Conte’s sister Cheryl said she and her brother loved the town of Greenwich and the family moved to town in about 1950.

“He knew this was the place we wanted to build his business and have his family,” she recalled.

Cheryl Conte said their father John R. Conte Sr came to the United States from Italy at the age of 11, not speaking a word of English, and only attended school through the 8th grade, in order to work and help the family.

“Our dad was a natural salesman and a natural entrepreneur. He started his business in Greenwich with a landscaping and tree work. His love for trees led him to go to school to get a license as a tree surgeon,” she said. “The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. John Jr would accompany his dad on jobs and he would learn the names and characteristics of all the trees.”

“John grew up appreciating and loving trees and nature and beauty. I can hear and imagine my dad saying, ‘Isn’t that beautiful!’ when we drove around town.”

She described her brother as a creative genius who used his talent and gifts to benefit all those around him: the town, the world and all those privileged to know him.