Smithfield Committee works toward diverse forestry

The Smithfield City Tree Committee, which is involved in the selection and placement of trees in local Smithfield parks, is creating a tree inventory for the community.

“We are working with the parks department to create a tree inventory that, hopefully, will be in effect this year,” said Lisa Michaels, the chairperson of the committee. “This will be a record of all the trees on city property and will be helpful to the City in future planning for trees.”

The committee created a list of trees that would thrive in the alkaline soil and are tolerant to drought. Also on the list are trees not commonly planted in the surrounding areas, adding diversity to Smithfield, which board member Jeff Barnes said is an urban forest.

“Planting trees that will do well based on the soil and climate of Smithfield is important because it helps us maintain healthy trees that will live a long life,” Barnes said. “We just try to encourage people to plant something a little different, that may do better than some of the trees that were planted in the past.”