Old trees cut as part of preservation plan
Work has begun on a tree maintenance project at Valley Cemetery funded by an Inner City Urban Forestry grant This is part of an overall project to remove hazard trees. perform preventative maintenance and re-plant new trees at the I 63-year old cemetery. Some of this work involves trees originally planted in the mid 1800's.
The USDA-Forest Service is providing 50 percent of the $88,000 grant and the City is matching the remaining portion. In addition to tree work, the grant includes funding to perform community outreach. In the summer of 2004, UNH Cooperative Extension worked with local children through the Green Thumb program at the Pine Street Community Garden opposite the cemetery. They learned about the importance of trees for urban areas and explored the natural environment within the cemetery.
The Valley Cemetery Preservation Master Plan completed in 2002, was used as a guide to determine the scope of work. This document made recommendations to preserve historic features including the cemetery landscape. A local tree company had their arborist review the condition of 365 mature trees and prioritized the work.
The 20-acre Valley Cemetery is a green oasis in the midst of downtown Manchester. It was designed in the "cemetery garden" style and originally used as an urban park. In the late 1800s, Manchester residents would visit Valley Cemetery to remember their loved ones while strolling and enjoying the beautiful grounds. Here they found a babbling brook running through the middle of a steep valley where ornate bridges, gazebos, and extensive gardens were located.
The city has contracted work on 70 trees with Dubois Tree Service. There will be 30 tree removals and another 40 trees will undergo pruning and cabling work.
In the Fall of 2004, 55 new trees were planted throughout the cemetery. Local resident will become involved again by attending workshops conducted by UNH Cooperative Extension and the Tree Steward program. Community volunteers from the inner city will learn proper techniques for mulching and watering the newly planted trees, and continue this work for two seasons until the trees become established.
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