TreesCharlotte Announces Inaugural Charlotte Arbor Week Celebration

Weeklong series of tree-related events to be held March 12 to 19

Nonprofit TreesCharlotte announced the debut of the first-ever Charlotte Arbor Week celebration, which will be held from March 12 to 19. The week will involve a series of events that includes tree plantings, educational programs, a networking event, road race, Citywide Free TreeStore and opening reception for Keeping Watch on Air. Over the course of eight days, TreesCharlotte will plant or give away 1,200 trees and another 2,500 seedlings.

“We want to recognize Charlotte’s tree canopy with a major, weeklong celebration,” said Dave Cable, executive director of TreesCharlotte. “Charlotte Arbor Week will bring residents together to plant trees and learn how to care for the urban tree canopy, which is undoubtedly one of the city’s finest treasures.”

Arbor Day is recognized all over the world, and the dates vary based on location, as tree-planting seasons vary. In North Carolina, Arbor Day is held on the first Friday following March 15.

Charlotte Arbor Week events include (events open to the public are in bold):

• Saturday, March 12 – Devonshire Elementary and Cochrane Collegiate Academy TreeDay. Planting 328 trees on the campus of both schools. Sponsored by Rotary District 7680. 9 to 11:30 a.m. 6200 Starhaven Drive, Charlotte.

• Tuesday, March 15 – Branching Out at Wooden Robot. Networking event to support Charlotte’s tree canopy, which will include drinks and light appetizers. Wooden Robot Brewery, 1440 S. Tryon St., Charlotte from 5:30-7. Partnering with the U.S. Green Building Council Emerging Professionals.

• Wednesday, March 16 – Renaissance West Planting. Planting 150 trees on the campus of The Renaissance mixed-income community and school. Sponsored by Crescent Communities. 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. 3610 Nobles Ave., Charlotte.

• Friday, March 18 – North Carolina Arbor Day. School plantings and educational events at seven Charlotte schools. One tree will be planted on each school campus for a total of seven trees and 2,500 seedlings will be given away to students.

• Friday, March 18 – Keeping Watch on Air Opening Reception. Exhibition of work by six different artists and a variety of speakers addressing the issue of air quality in Charlotte and how the urban forest plays a role. 6 m. UNC Charlotte Center City, 320 E. 9^th St., Charlotte. www.keepingwatch.org

• Saturday, March 19 – 30^th Annual Elizabeth 8k Road Race “Run for the Trees.” 8 a.m. 10% of proceeds benefit TreesCharlotte; 35 free trees given away with proof of Charlotte residency. Hawthorne Recreation Center, 345 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte. elizabeth8k.com

• Saturday, March 19 – “End of Season” Citywide Free TreeStore. 650 free trees will be given away with proof of Charlotte residency. 9 to 11 a.m. Landscape Management, 701 Tuckaseegee Road, Charlotte.

To stay up to date on Charlotte Arbor Week events, visit www.TreesCharlotte.org/arborweek. Use the #CLTarborweek hashtag to follow the conversation on social media.

About TreesCharlotte

Established in 2012, TreesCharlotte is a nonprofit partnered with the City of Charlotte that is dedicated to expanding Charlotte’s tree canopy with the goal of attaining 50% tree canopy by 2050. Achieving this goal calls for planting 500,000 trees over the coming decades. In addition to planting trees, TreesCharlotte serves as stewards of the land, protecting trees from disease and educating the public about tree care. For more information about TreesCharlotte, visit www.treescharlotte.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TreesCharlotte or on Twitter at @TreesCharlotte.