Building Stronger Communities Together

With support from grant funders and in collaboration with nonprofits, municipal partners, and residents, the Garden helps communities harness the power of plants and creates opportunities for people to connect with and learn about nature.

In Worcester, horticulture staff worked with students from the United Way’s WooServes program to plant the Franklin Street Median. This community greening project and others have helped beautify downtown spaces while also contributing pollinator resources and other ecological services to the urban environment. Our Get a Tree, Plant a Tree initiative helps restore much-needed tree canopy in environmental justice neighborhoods.

Nature-based educational programs that take place at the Garden and in local schools engage young people in hands-on experiences that teach about habitats, tree science, climate change, environmental justice, and green industry careers. Working closely with community partners, we develop mission-focused programs around the interests and needs of students. For some, an introduction to nature starts at the Garden, and here they build a lifelong appreciation for plants and the environment.