Chelmsford High School Ecology Club members, along with some help from the Chelmsford’s Tree Committee and Department of Public Works, plant trees outside the school on Wednesday, May 28.

by Jen Oemig

CHELMSFORD – Wednesday May 28 marked a momentous milestone for the Ecology Club at Chelmsford High School as students came together to plant five trees on campus—culminating a project over a year in the making.

This initiative began when dedicated club member Chhabi Patel attended a webinar hosted by Tree-Plenish, which inspired the club to bring meaningful environmental change right to their school grounds.

Since that spark of inspiration, the Eco Club has worked closely with Jim Martin and John Thompson from the Chelmsford Tree Committee, and Town Tree Warden Christine Clancy, engaging in every step of the process—from soil sampling and selecting the right species, to marking ideal planting spots and learning the hands-on techniques for successful tree planting.

In a true full-circle moment, the club also utilized their home-grown compost—created from CHS lunch scraps—as nutrient-rich support for the newly planted trees, reinforcing their commitment to sustainability at every level.

This collaboration wasn’t just about digging holes and planting saplings; it was about cultivating a vision for a greener CHS.

The experience has been deeply fulfilling for club members, who now leave a lasting legacy that will grow for generations.

More than just beautiful additions to campus, these trees will contribute to carbon reduction, provide habitat for local wildlife and serve as living symbols of student-driven environmental stewardship.

The Eco Club is proud to have taken real climate action—rooted in education, community partnership, and the belief that change grows from the ground up.