A History of the Lower East Side in Ten Trees

Forests might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the tight urban grid of the Lower East Side. Yet the history of Lower Manhattan is firmly rooted in the story of the urban forest – the trees that call the city home. On this walk, join Hadas Fischer, Street Tree Care Manager at the LES Ecology Center, to experience urban history from an unusual, leafy, perspective. We’ll visit locally-evolved and immigrant trees, and discover the ways they and the people who cared for them have shaped New York history, from the old-growth forests of Indigenous New York, through colonial orchards and New Deal plantings, to current understandings of urban ecology. So come and meet London planes, oaks, and other members of our urban forest, and even learn a few practical tips for caring for for your own friendly neighborhood trees!