Maintaining Bristol’s Urban Forests

Join Chris Fletcher, arborist and local storyteller, for a discussion on maintaining Bristol’s urban forests. Bristol was one of the first towns to develop American urban forests. Blithewold is at the heart of Bristol’s involvement in the collection of trees from international sources, along with other important 19th-century landscapes. Bristol’s downtown streetscape, Juniper Hill Cemetery’s gardenesque landscape, and North Farm’s arboretum all played major roles in the development of Bristol’s unique urban forest. How are these landscapes surviving the stresses of urban life? Are the practices of the Green Industry being applied correctly? What are the common myths that fail us? If you live in Bristol, you are living in the remnants of a 19th-century forest. You walk or drive under the canopies of trees planted with foresight and the idea that generations to come would enjoy their longevity. Your trees, even if planted a month ago, are part of a tradition of Bristolians reforesting urban landscapes. Join us for a discussion of the ‘dos and don’ts’ when caring for your trees and our greater urban landscape. The lecture will be followed by a tour of Blithewold’s significant trees. More about Chris: Chris Fletcher was raised in Bristol, Rhode Island, and has a lifelong passion for the trees of New England. Chris pursued his passion and earned a Bachelor's degree in Landscape Design, and spent 12 years with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, writing tree-preservation reports to protect local tree populations during road construction projects. Chris served for 20 years as a Bartlett Tree Experts Arborist Representative and a Local Office Manager. In addition, Chris has been entrusted with the care of Bristol's historic Juniper Hill Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark, for 40 years. He is a Qualified Tree Risk Assessor with the International Society of Arboriculture and was presented with the Preservation Society of Newport County’s Laurel Award in 2024 as the only Arborist to receive this prestigious honor for 20 years of outstanding service in protecting and nurturing the Society’s trees and landscapes. He also offers seasonal lectures on plant diagnostics, landscape history, and cultural trends within the arboricultural industry.