It's National Love a Tree Day - The Preservation Society of Newport County has established a beech tree nursery on the grounds of Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth, making an investment to ensure the future of the iconic landscapes of the Newport Mansions. Magnificent beech trees imported from Europe in the late 19th century dominate the grounds of many of Newport's historic properties. But those trees have begun reaching the end of their natural lives, and many significant trees have been lost in recent years. To ensure that trees that die can be replaced in kind, the Preservation Society's grounds department recently planted 26 young beech trees at Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth. There, the 3-4 year old trees will be nurtured until they are mature enough to be used as replacements for older trees that are lost to age, disease or storms. According to grounds director Jeff Curtis, it will be at least five years before any of the new trees are transplanted. The s...