A Little About Us

The West Hartford Tree Project was started by two local educators, Ted and Carolyn Goerner.

Driven by a deep love for their town and a concern for future generations, they started encouraging
others to help restore West Hartford’s tree canopy, one year, and one sapling at a time.

What began with a few local plantings quickly grew into a town-wide effort.
Today, thanks to our generous donors and volunteers, we plant over 1,000 trees each year!

In 2025, the West Hartford Tree Project became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Our Mission

The West Hartford Tree Project is dedicated to restoring and sustaining the tree canopy of West Hartford by advocating for the health and growth of trees in all neighborhoods. We engage communities in tree planting, care, and preservation, while fostering partnerships with local and regional organizations working toward environmental resilience and equity across the Hartford region and Connecticut.

Between 2010 and 2023, West Hartford lost more than 20% of its tree canopy—and the decline continues. We’re here to reverse that trend. With every tree we plant, we’re helping to cool our streets, clean our air, strengthen our ecosystems, and build a greener, more resilient community.

This is more than reforestation. It’s regeneration—of our environment, our neighborhoods, and our connections to one another.

Our Impact

Since 2020, the West Hartford Tree Project has grown year over year – more donors, more volunteers, and more trees in the ground. Each season builds on the last, creating a greener and more resilient community for generations to come.