Alex and Eli’s talk will focus on the Lily Pond Tree Nursery: what it is, why IHT is managing this project, and how it will benefit the community.  They will also talk about the general health of trees on Deer Isle, particularly what is being observed in IHT's preserves. There are invasive insects and blights affecting trees all over Maine. They will discuss what to look for, what to do when you see them, and how you may manage the land to discourage them. Introducing new species of plants to the island can encourage these blights, so they will discuss what to consider while deciding what woody plants to add to the properties you care for.

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In 2023, IHT began to create a small native tree nursery in the Lily Pond meadow to propagate woody plants for future projects at IHT preserves and other island lands. The foundation of this initiative was supported by USDA’s Project Canopy Grant and serves to provide resources for a healthy and resilient forest around Lily Pond Park.

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This area also functions as an educational opportunity for local schools, island residents, and visitors. In the wake of a changing climate, our forests are experiencing wetter springs, sustained droughts, more frequent and intense winds, and the migration of invasive pests. The hope is to provide visitors with a glimpse of what a healthy and sustainable forest may look like in the future along the coast of Maine, by being in relationship and reciprocity with the land.