The Tour des Trees bike ride, the annual fundraising and outreach event for the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) kicked off in style with an evening dinner at the Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens in Stamford, CT.

A Kickoff Celebration and Tree Planting
In addition to celebrating the beginning of the 2024 Tour, the dinner was also a celebration by TREE Fund and Bartlett Tree Experts for the International Society of Arboriculture’s (ISA’s) 100 anniversary celebration. When organizing the 2024 ride, organizers knew that kicking off the ride in the same place the ISA was founded while being able to celebrate the 100th anniversary was too good an opportunity to pass up and riders revealed in the chance to see the grounds and learn all about how the Bartlett family planted and researched trees on the grounds.
Before dinner, riders and guests were able to plant a new tree on the property- with the help of Bartlett Tree Experts- dedicating the tree to the 100 years of ISA. Of course, to finalize the dedication, everyone in attendance was invited to partake in the Tour’s traditional tree blessing, encouraging anyone within earshot to “give trees a chance.”

Riders and guests were also able to learn firsthand about growing up on the grounds as Bartlett Tree Experts Chairman Robert Bartlett was in attendance and told stories from his youth and the connection between the farm and ISA. Also in attendance to celebrate with and welcome the riders were Patrick Franklin, VP of Special Operations at Bartlett Tree and Board Chair of TREE Fund, and ISA CEO Caitlyn Pollihan, along with other guests of Bartlett Tree Experts, TREE Fund, and the Bartlett Arboretum. Bartlett Tree was also the sponsor of that evening’s dinner under the big top tent.

Tour des Trees Circles New England
The next morning, a group of 79 riders plus another dozen plus staff and volunteers departed the City of Stamford and began their 430-mile, five-day ride across southern New England.
In addition to riding, TREE Fund organizes several outreach events during the week, allowing riders to not only learn about the trees and tree care needs of the surrounding area, but also to spread the word about the importance of trees and tree research to different groups they meet along the way. Events such as tree plantings, tours, meet-and-greets, and children’s presentations by Professor Pricklethorn are traditional staples of the ride and riders revel in the opportunity to share their knowledge of trees and meet with locals.
Each day, the riders tackled daily rides of 70 to 100+ miles, going from city to city, highlighted this year with a day on Martha’s Vineyard island, which included a ferry ride to and from the island, with bikes all stored in the corner of the front of the ship.
The ride ended in Providence, RI and celebrated with a tree planting at Roger Williams Memorial, a national park, helping rangers on their path towards recreating the park’s original planting plan and providing new shade for visitors for years to come.
When all was said and done- along with the help of 39 registrants who signed up for the Virtual Tour des Trees and participated from their homes- TREE Fund was able to raise over $330,000 towards their mission of identifying and funding programs that support the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge in arboriculture and urban forestry.
TREE Fund is already planning next year’s Tour des Trees ride, which will take place in late summer, in western Michigan.
Article written by Jonathan Cain, Communications and Engagement Manager, Tree Research and Education Endowment (TREE) Fund.
Photos courtesy of Chris Banks.