Scout Plants New Trees in Wrentham Center

The gravel parking lot in downtown Wrentham will soon look a little nicer, thanks to Boy Scout Luke Davies. A member of Troop 111, Davies planted eight maple trees around the lot for his Eagle Scout project.
On Saturday, October 14, Davies led a team of twenty volunteers to plant the trees. The installation was the culmination of many months of planning and fundraising.
Davies said he had been looking forward to working on an Eagle Scout project.
“It’s what I’ve been working towards for the last few years,” he said.
An Eagle Scout project must be developed, planned, and led by a Boy Scout, and benefit a religious, school, or community organization. Nationally, less than 7% of Boy Scouts achieve the Eagle rank.
Davies knew he wanted to do something that would help beautify Wrentham’s town center, and the gravel parking lot presented a good opportunity.
“It’s a central area and I go past it every day,” he explained. “And it’s kind of an ugly space, right next to the common, which is really beautiful.”
Davies worked closely with Wrentham’s Landscape Committee on the project. Chairperson Doug McDuff said his group guided Davies during the project’s planning stages, discussing issues like site line of traffic and overhead utilities.
The project, said Davies, exposed him to the workings of town government, and how much coordination between various boards must occur for even the smallest project in town to get off the ground. And he learned a lot about trees, too.
“I was leaning towards planting pear trees, but the town’s landscape committee suggested I go with maples because they are long-lasting and sturdier,” he said.
According to McDuff, some trees are better suited for “street life,” like the Armstrong maple trees Davies finally selected.
Davies, a senior at KP High School, plans to attend college to study architecture. He participates in the school’s Leo Club and Drama Club, and is a member of a robotics club in Franklin. He is also a member of the National Honor Society.
The newly-planted trees are surrounded by water bags, and Davies fills them every other week on his way home from school. The trees will have to be watered for the next two years, until the roots are established.
“The trees are not too noticeable yet because they are pretty young,” said Davies. “But I think when fall comes around and they’re changing color, it will be really nice.”