If you see a horde of bicyclists in Smithfield or Providence between Tuesday and Friday, chances are they’re participating in the Tour des Trees.

The event is an annual long-distance cycling ride to raise funds for and awareness of the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund). Since 1992, Tour des Trees riders have bicycled through communities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, planting trees, educating the public, and highlighting the work done by arboriculture professionals and the importance of science-based tree care.

This year’s 84 participants will start riding Tuesday, Sept. 24, in Stamford, Conn., and head to Middletown, Conn., a distance of 89 miles. Day 2’s ride will be from Middletown to Smithfield, R.I., a distance of 79 miles, followed by a ride from Smithfield to Falmouth, Mass., (85 miles), a Martha’s Vineyard loop (74 miles), and a final ride from Falmouth to Providence (103 miles).

On Tuesday, the riders will pass through Smithfield. The Greenville Public Library will host a presentation by children’s entertainer and YouTuber Professor Pricklethorn at 4:30 p.m.

The tour concludes Friday, Sept. 27, with a ceremonial tree planting in Roger Williams Park at 4:30 p.m. The New England chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (New England ISA) will also participate.

The Tour des Trees has been traveling to different locations all over the U.S., and the world, with the purpose of spreading the word about the importance of our urban forests and about proper tree care,” said Jonathan Cain, communications and engagement manager for the TREE Fund. “Planting trees during our ride is a great way to leave behind something that is not only beautiful but something that will be a benefit to the community by providing shade and mental health benefits. We are very happy to be able to work with the staff at the Roger Williams Memorial Park and help them get a little further toward their vision of what the park can be.” 

The goal of the ride is to promote the TREE Fund’s mission to explain how trees contribute to the lives of people, communities, economies, and the environment, and how to plan, plant, and sustain urban and community trees. TREE Fund research has produced better ways to plant and care for urban trees, making them more resilient, more resistant to pests, and less prone to failure. The tour also supports education programs aimed at connecting young people with the environment and career opportunities in green industries; the fund has awarded more than $5.4 million in grant and scholarship funding since 2002.

This year’s fundraising goal is $410,000; as of the weekend, more than $230,000 had been raised. To donate to a Tour des Trees rider, click here.

The money raised by riders are applied to new grants, payments on multiyear grants awarded in prior years, or added to permanent endowment funds.