New trees to aid the environment, benefit community health, and restore a bit of history were planted during a number of installations around Branford on Arbor Day, April 28.

On Eades Street, two new Princeton elm trees were positioned in front of John B. Sliney Elementary School. Branford Tree Warden Gary Zeilinski said it’s part of continuing an effort, which began a couple of years ago, to reintroduce a prevalence of elm trees in Branford by planting disease-resistant Princeton elms.

Main Street was once lined with elm trees, until the devastating effects of Dutch elm disease, as well as some hurricanes, ultimately caused their demise, he said. The few remaining elms which survived are treated annually to stave off Dutch elm disease.

Zielinski said planting Princeton elms at Sliney was a fitting way to help reintroduce more elm trees to Branford’s town center at a building which is connected to Branford’s past. The school was built in 1929 as the town’s public high school.

“I thought it would be nice to frame this beautiful, iconic building with two Princeton elms,” said Zielinski.

Sliney principal Maria Clark and fourth grade members of Sliney’s Student Council thanked Zielinski, Public Works crew members, and representatives of Branford’s Community Forest Commission (CFC) for the newly-planted trees.

“Thank you to the Town of Branford for selecting John B. Sliney School for these beautiful elm trees,” said Clark. “We’re blessed to have this opportunity not only to showcase this wonderful building, but all the great learning that happens here at Sliney.”

Within walking distance from the school, Tyler’s Green on Main Street also received several plantings of new native trees, said Zielinski, who’s also Branford’s Public Works supervisor. Crews planted three red maple and five black gum trees on the public space, which is bounded at one corner by Cedar Street as it stretches between Main Street and Tyler Street.

CFC member Shirley McCarthy noted data gathered by the U.S. Forest Service shows tree-lined streets help to provide longer, healthier lives for those living in their vicinity.

In another set of Arbor Day tree plantings, Public Works crews installed two trees at Foote Memorial Park’s Veterans’ Memorial pollinator garden. The two flowering Serviceberry trees were donated to the Town by Eversource energy company.

Branford’s town-wide tree planting program has recently expanded to purchase and plant 40 to 50 new trees each year.

“We’re a tree-friendly town,” said Zielinski.

As a designated Tree City USA, the Town also receives some support to fund its tree program through a grant provided by the Arbor Day Foundation.