Ipswich-Rowley Rotary has again partnered with the Ipswich Department of Public Works, Ipswich Shade Tree Committee, and Corliss Brothers to add more beauty to our town. This time, trees were planted at the Town’s Pony Express soccer fields on Candlewood Road, a site previously occupied by polo fields.
The former Pony Express Farm property was purchased by the town about ten years ago with financial assistance from Essex County Greenbelt and the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game. Chris Davis, Rotary’s Community Service Co-Chair outlined the project: "Although the grounds are frequently used by Ipswich youth soccer teams and their fans, the fields and parking area remained barren with almost no trees.'"Davis added that "Rotarian Jim Tedford procured 19 trees from Corliss Brothers last Fall and we arranged, along with the Shade Tree Committee, for the DPW to plant the trees in May. Rotary also purchased mulch that four Rotarians spread around the young trees in June.”
According to Davis, "Rotary has committed to assisting Fred Blum of the Shade Tree Committee with the challenging task of weekly watering. The trees are located far from the nearest water source, so in some cases water must be lugged in jugs."
Davis expressed his pleasure with the result, “19 mostly healthy and thriving trees will eventually grace this area with a leafy green canopy that will be enjoyed for years to come.” “Of course,” he added, “that assumes we keep watering them through the hot weather and current drought.”
The Rotary club is grateful to Corliss Brothers, the Ipswich DPW, and the Ipswich Shade Tree Committee for their support and collaboration on this effort. This was our second joint tree planting project, the other being at Southern Heights a couple of years ago.
Pictured above is the Pony Express mulching team: Doug Shealy, Diane Herth, Chris Davis, and John Herth.