Landscape that Surrounds Newport Mansions Recognized as Accredited Arboretum

The 88 acres, 1,800 trees and countless other plants surrounding the mansions cared for by The Preservation Society of Newport County are now officially recognized as an arboretum by the only international body that accredits arboreta.

The Arbnet Arboretum Accreditation program of the Morton Arboretum in Chicago endowed the Newport Mansions Arboretum Level II Accreditation on account of the Preservation Society’s meticulous inventorying of every tree, the professional staff maintaining the landscape and ongoing education programming relating to the trees and landscape.

“This milestone puts us in excellent company,” said Preservation Society CEO & Executive Director Trudy Coxe. “Other recent accreditations have gone to The University of Oxford Botanic Garden, Arlington National Cemetery, and Longwood Gardens, as well as the Newport Tree Society for the Newport Arboretum. Joining that illustrious company is an honor and a testament to the hard work of our staff, and of our partners like Bartlett Tree Experts.”

Bartlett Tree Experts built a digital inventory of the 1,800 trees of 120 different species on the grounds enveloping the Preservation Society’s 10 mansions and historic properties as well as the Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth.

Each has been GPS mapped and has its own maintenance plan.

The goal of accreditation is “to promote interaction and improved professional practices among arboretum operators,” according to a Preservation Society of Newport County news release.

The Newport Mansions Arboretum joins the citywide arboretum, The Newport Arboretum, which was established in 2011 thanks to years of effort by the Newport Tree Society.

According to The Morton Arboretum’s report on the Newport Mansions Arboretum’s accreditation, the unifying element that connects their diverse collection of properties is “an outstanding collection of specimen trees.”

“The mild climate and rich soil of Aquidneck Island, which has been called ‘the Eden of America,’ produces champion trees beyond compare,” according to the report.

“Accreditation as a Level II Arboretum recognizes several decades of stewardship by The Preservation Society of Newport County of its historic estate landscapes,” said Jim Donahue, curator of historic landscapes & horticulture for The Preservation Society of Newport County. “The newly formed Newport Mansions Arboretum looks to take its place among institutions seeking to educate the public about the trees and landscapes that are our heritage.”

In addition to its landscapes, the institution includes historical properties such as the Nicholas-Wanton-Hunter House, dating back to 1748, and the opulent summer cottages of Newport’s Gilded Age. Its programs for the public seek to educate the public about the grounds and the value of preservation.