Plant Something Bee-eautiful Grant Funds will support the creation of 8 municipal micro-forests in Medford, MA
November 4, 2026 — TreesMedford was recently awarded a $1,000 Plant Something Bee-eautiful grant from Keep Massachusetts Beautiful to help transform eight neglected city plots into micro-forests.
The installation of these micro-forests will take place on highly visible public land, turning municipal plots into restorative, beautiful green infrastructure. TreesMedford plans to utilize Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn’s Adopt-A-Site program to secure these municipal plots and transform them.
The plots will be structured with four distinct layers of plants to mimic a natural forest. This
includes a canopy of deep-rooted keystone trees, understory trees, nectar and fruit producers
are the shrub understory and ground perennials. The configuration of the plots will create a
shaded micro-climate to support a self-sufficient ecosystem.
To benefit local pollinators, TreesMedford plans to utilize native plant species to support 23
at-risk native insect species in Eastern Massachusetts, including specialized mining bees, the
vulnerable Yellow-banded Bumble Bee, and the endangered Rusty-patched Bumble Bee.
“For TreesMedford, ‘planting something beautiful’ means bringing real ecology back to the
heart of our city.
” said Jared Ingersoll of TreesMedford. “By modeling our Medford Square plantings on resilient New England sandplain communities, we’re turning tough, neglected urban soils into vibrant pollinator pathways that sustain local wildlife.”
Plant stock will be procured from independent Massachusetts nurseries, such as Native Plant
Trust or Oakhaven Sanctuary. The site work is planned to be completed by dedicated TreesMedford volunteers. Site maintenance, including weekly hand-watering and manual weeding will also be performed by TreesMedford volunteers. Weekly maintenance of the sites is especially important during the 2-year establishment period to ensure plant survival.
Keep Massachusetts Beautiful’s Plant Something Bee-eautiful program provides $10,000 in
annual grants to support the planting of pollinator-friendly public gardens, with financial
support from Edrington, a Scottish purveyor of premium spirits.
“Our Plant Something Bee-eautiful program beautifies public spaces while also restoring natural
habitats for pollinators,” said Neil Rhein, founder and executive director of Keep Massachusetts
Beautiful. “Bees and other pollinators are an essential link in our food chain and this program provides funding to help protect and restore essential habitats. We’re pleased to support TreesMedford in this joint effort.”
About Keep Massachusetts Beautiful
Keep Massachusetts Beautiful is taking action to make Massachusetts a cleaner, greener, litter-free place to live, work, and play. Learn more at http://www.keepmassbeautiful.org.
About TreesMedford
TreesMedford is a strong advocate for the trees of Medford, MA, working to care and plant more trees, and serve as a citizen voice for policy and planning. Learn more at http://www.treesmedford.org