Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Arborist Day at River Walk

An Annual Event

By: Botanical - Oct 20, 2026

 

Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Arborist Day at River Walk

Berkshire Botanical Garden’s annual Arborist Day will be held at the River Walk and Riverfront Extension in Great Barrington on Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event invites area arborists to take part in this day of pruning, removals and plantings in the peaceful and sensitive stretches of Riverwalk and Riverfront. Arborists will convene near the W.E.B. DuBois rain garden/kiosk off River Street at about 8 a.m.

This annual event is sponsored by the Berkshire Botanical Garden. For over 21 years, arborists from around the Berkshire community come together to provide a day of professional service to care for a host location’s trees. Tree planting, pruning and removal will be conducted for the host site. This year's speaker will be Dr. Brian Kane, professor in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts, who will talk about tie-in points for climbing and rigging, ropes and the strength of wood species. This presentation is eligible for continuing education credits.

The co-founder of the event, BBG Trustee Tom Ingersoll of Ingersoll Land Care in Sheffield, describes this day as “a great opportunity for different teams of professional arborists to mix it up, collaborate and give back to our community.”

Arborist Day was the brainchild of BBG’s former Director of Horticulture Dorthe Hviid, along with arborists Ron Yaple, Ken Gooch and Tom Ingersoll.

“In recognizing the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s need for professional attention, we reached out to our industry peers and created a tradition,” said Ingersoll. “After the first Arborist Day on the BBG campus, the group then reached out to other area non-profits, schools and museum properties to offer the services of as many as 25 professionals and their equipment.” 

Over the years, Arborist Day has visited — and provided free tree service to — The Mount, Construct’s Pine Woods Condominiums, The Bidwell House, Monument Mountain High School, Gould Farm, Brookside Manor, Hebert Arboretum, and Norman Rockwell Museum.