Institution profile

Tower Hill Botanic Garden (THBG) is both a 171-acre botanic garden and the headquarters of the nonprofit Worcester County Horticultural Society. In 1984, after 144 years in Worcester, Massachusetts, the Horticultural Society Trustees sold Horticultural Hall and relocated to Tower Hill Farm in nearby Boylston to further the Society’s mission as an educational institution and set about creating a public garden. Where once the Society highlighted the importance of horticulture through vegetable, fruit, and flower shows, THBG now immerses visitors in the glory of its gardens, a range of high quality  educational programs, and engaging special events and exhibitions. Through on-site and community outreach programming, THBG seeks to “create experiences with plants that inspire people and improve the world.” (For additional information about the Garden, visit the Tower Hill Botanical Garden website.)

Program description

Tower Hill’s outreach programming began with the strategic integration of another Worcester based organization, the Worcester Tree Initiative (WTI).  After serving as WTI’s fiscal agent for five years, THBG incorporated WTI as a Garden program focused on outreach in the community, specifically in the City of Worcester. WTI was organized in January 2009 by Congressman Jim McGovern and Lt. Governor Tim Murray, after officials estimated that tens of thousands of trees would need to be removed from residential yards, city streets, and parks due to an infestation of the Asian Longhorned Beetle in Worcester County. Understanding the impact this would have on the environment, these leaders took immediate action. WTI was created to be a route to recovery from imminent tree loss. WTI helped plant more than 30,000 trees in a 110 square mile area of Worcester and surrounding towns in October 2014. Although the WTI name is no longer used, the urban forestry work of that organization continues.

Today, urban forestry is one of many THBG outreach efforts designed to connect people to plants beyond the Garden’s boundaries including planting and maintaining trees throughout the city (especially in underserved neighborhoods); tracking tree health; working with residents to coordinate community tree plantings, tree watering, pruning, and more; educating residents and the public about the importance of protecting and expanding the urban tree canopy; and recruiting and training volunteers to care for the trees in their communities. In addition, every summer, Tower Hill hires Worcester youth as part of its Young Adult Forestry Program, to water and maintain newly planted city of Worcester street trees.

Tower Hill works with Worcester community groups to plant urban trees and improve green infrastructure throughout Worcester neighborhoods. Courtesy of Amy Nyman, Tower Hill Horticulture Outreach Manager.

Program impact

Through its outreach initiatives, THBG seeks not just to beautify the city of Worcester, but to empower residents to be stewards of the environment and learn about trees in their community. Initially, WTI set a goal of overseeing the planting of 30,000 trees in five years, which it accomplished in 2014. Based on estimates from iTree, a service of the USDA Forest Service, each tree WTI planted resulted in public benefits valued at $3,024 over 30 years and helped to solve some of the complex problems in urban environments including managing stormwater, reducing air pollution, and mitigating extreme temperatures, which in turn leads to reduced energy use. The work of WTI has been recognized with the International Society of Arborists Award (2018), Audubon “A” Award (Massachusetts Audubon Society, 2016), and Alternatives, Inc. Community Partner Award (2016). Its work has also been recognized by Massachusetts State Senators Harriette Chandler and Michael Moore, and U.S. Congressman James P. McGovern.

Future plans

Moving forward, THBG plans to increase its presence in Worcester through outreach that focuses on educating the broader community about the value of public horticulture and the important role a modern botanic garden can play in supporting a healthy and vibrant city and region. Those plans include continued urban forestry work and expanded efforts to connect people with plants by partnering with local community groups, city of Worcester staff, elected officials, and local businesses to implement low impact design solutions throughout the city. Future horticultural outreach efforts will focus more heavily on native plants, pollinator gardens, rain gardens, and other green infrastructure that demonstrate the important role plants can play in not only beautifying urban areas but also in mitigating the impacts of development. Future outreach plans also include increased educational programming in schools and the development of new curricula focused on climate change, environmental justice, and trees.

Takeaways for other public gardens

THBG outreach programming has a greater impact and is strengthened by its partnerships with Worcester city officials and community organizations and institutions such as universities, land trusts, community centers, senior centers, schools, and recovery residences. By reaching out and connecting with local partners, THBG strengthens and expands the impact of its core mission and serves as a resource beyond its gates to the greater Worcester community.