News Release – April 26, 2024

The Bartlett Legacy Tree Program Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary, Surpasses 710,000 Tree Mark

April 26, 2024 – Stamford, CT – With the arrival of Arbor Day today, Bartlett Tree Experts will give away more than 40,000 tree seedlings in communities across the U.S. as part of the Bartlett Legacy Tree Program, which has distributed over 710,000 tree seedlings since its inception in 2014.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Legacy Tree Program established by Bartlett Tree Experts aims to support tree planting and stewardship in local communities through the annual distribution of seedlings in schools, at events, and for reforestation efforts. During the first half of this year, more than 68,000 trees are being distributed by Bartlett Tree Experts employees through the program. Many of those seedlings are handed out or planted in the spring as part of Arbor Day and Earth Day festivities, events, and activities.

Patrick Franklin, who manages the program as Vice President of Special Operations, said, “Our Legacy Tree Program is a great way for Bartlett Tree Experts to make a difference while giving back to our communities and improving the environment. We are bringing people and trees together.”

With all of Bartlett’s 180 offices participating, the seedlings have been given away in 40 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces, and numerous locations in the United Kingdom and Dublin, Ireland. 

The goals of the program include raising awareness among school children of the benefits of planting trees and helping local communities reverse the increasing deficit of urban and suburban trees lost to development. 

Since the inception of the Legacy Tree Program 10 years ago, Bartlett Tree Experts has supported the planting of trees after natural disasters, as well as to help increase the urban tree canopy. Franklin continued, “It is really gratifying to see 15-foot trees that were planted as seedlings at the start of our Legacy Tree Program. We are happy to be making a difference each year!” 

Under the Legacy Tree Program, the tree species are selected for distribution by geographic region with a focus on increasing the local diversity of native tree populations. Some common species being distributed this year include Flowering Dogwood, Japanese Maple, and White Oak.