Since 1978 the all-volunteer Friends of Trees has worked to protect and plant trees in Chatham. In addition to offering memorial trees in memory of friends and family, we plant trees throughout the town, work to prevent needless tree removal, celebrate Arbor Day with tree plantings or tree giveaways, work with other groups to restore trees on public lands, provide educational grants, advise local government about tree plantings, obtain Tree City certification, and more.
Why do we care?
Trees are the elephants of the plant kingdom. They dominate and ground a landscape. They inspire a sense of awe at their size, beauty, and ancient heritage. Trees have not only been a part of life on the planet for 380 million years (start of the Carboniferous period), but they have made life on planet earth possible. Immovable and silent, they go about their lives enriching ours. They provide us with many benefits, most of which go underappreciated. This is why we care. This is why Friends of Trees exists today: to plant, protect, and maintain Chatham’s trees. And to educate others on their importance in the belief that if we all understand how they help us, then we will help them.
Earth Week in Chatham is April 21-27. Events are listed on the Chatham Conservation Foundation website with details for the Friends of Trees sponsored Chase Park and Old Village guided walks on Tuesday and Thursday and tree giveaways on Friday and Saturday.
A map of Memorial Trees in Chatham is now available.
Find events around the Cape with the Cape Cod Conservation Calendar.
Memorial trees
Request a memorial tree in someone's honor or memory to be planted in Chatham.
Walking tour
Friends of Trees has published a self-guided walking tour of “Notable Trees” in Chatham's Old Village.
See the list of all of our
Chase Park Trees.