Awbury Arboretum in Germantown has been open to the public for more than a century. This year, the staff is studying how to preserve the oasis for future generations.

Over the summer, experts assessed nearly 200 trees within the arboretum’s 56 acres, Awbury Arboretum officials announced in an Aug. 28 press release. Consultants with the Urban Forestry Department of Morris Arboretum & Gardens evaluated and tagged 182 trees, identifying the species and any health concerns.

The study, which was funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), is the first step toward a full inventory of the arboretum’s tree canopy, said Sara Stevenson, executive director of Awbury Arboretum.

This is the first inventory in the Germantown arboretum’s history that will survey the entire property, Stevenson said. The study, which is set to begin in the fall, will allow the staff to improve visitor safety and boost the health and resilience of its tree canopy for generations. Funding from DCNR will also allow Awbury to plant more trees throughout the site.

“It’s a really incredible thing for us,” Stevenson said.

For the preliminary study, the Morris team assessed trees near walking paths and other high-traffic areas.

Researchers recommended removing 55 trees (some of higher priority than others) and pruning 108. Trees need to be removed when they’re at risk of falling because of poor tree health or if their location creates safety risks, Stevenson said. And pruning — removing dead or diseased material — ensures their longevity.

According to the release, the arboretum features native oaks — red, scarlet, shingle, and bur — that are essential to local wildlife. It also has maples, elms, and tulip trees. Researchers flagged invasive Norway and sycamore maple as “invasive species of concern.”

For the full inventory, researchers will record the canopy’s species demographics, health, measurements, as well as what type of pruning and other treatments it needs. Supported by funding from the Mid-Atlantic Environmental Justice Fund and The William Penn Foundation, the study will cover an estimated 1,500-2,000 trees, Stevenson said.

These findings will help Awbury understand the impact of invasive species, climate change and other threats. The arboretum will also be able to label trees for visitors.

“We’re going to be taking our tree collection to an entirely new level in terms of management, care, understanding, (and) tracking,” she said. “We’re really proud of what this means for the tree collection at Awbury, and how well we can steward the place, and also what it means for visitors.”

Stevenson said the assessments are an important step in helping Awbury reach its strategic goals for 2025-2028: care for the land, improve the organization, and provide relevant and inclusive programming for community members. Addressing threats to the canopy now ensures the trees will continue providing shade, beauty, biodiversity, storm water management, and other vital services.

“There’s both the environmental but also the individual and personal value that you can find with trees,” Stevenson said. “We’re a really valuable community asset. And the better we take care of our trees, the better resource we can be for our community, the safer it will be for people to visit, and the longer term we can expect of our tree collection.

“If we can take care of our trees now, it’s a gift to the people that are going to be stewarding Awbury Arboretum in 20 years and 50 years,” she added.

Abby Weiss is an environmental reporter for the Local and a Report for America corps member. She can be reached at Abby@chestnuthilllocal.com.