Southside Richmond residents this October can receive two free native trees or shrubs to plant at home as part of a major initiative to increase tree cover under the Greening Southside Richmond project. Southside ReLeaf and partner Chesapeake Bay Foundation are offering the trees for pickup to people who have registered in advance on Saturday, Oct. 16, during a tree planting at the Hickory Hill Community Center in Southside. If you are unable to pick up, the trees can be delivered to you, and volunteers can help plant them at your home.
“The tree giveaway is a great way for our neighbors to plant trees in their own yards and appreciate cooling shade, reduced flooding, and the overall beauty trees provide,” said Sheri Shannon, co-founder of Southside ReLeaf. “Fall is the perfect time of year to plant trees because of the cooler weather, but should also serve as a reminder of the very hot summer we just experienced because of climate change. The city is getting hotter and hotter, and we need to increase tree canopy in the Southside to cool the environment. This is an important step in improving the health of residents.”
The 15 species of trees and shrubs available include many beautiful flowering varieties well adapted to Richmond’s climate, including silky dogwood, eastern redbud, tulip poplar, winterberry, and red maple. These trees will help beautify neighborhoods, cast cooling shade on hot days, lead to cleaner air and water, and provide homes for birds and other wildlife.
People interested in ordering trees can register here. For more information you can also call/text (804) 446-1029.
The Greening Southside Richmond Project, funded by a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant, will plant hundreds of trees in Southside, train local youth for green jobs, reduce polluted runoff to the James River, transform asphalt into green space at Branch’s Baptist Church, and cool some of the hottest neighborhoods in Richmond.
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