TreesCharlotte Kicks Off Planting Season With 3 Events This Weekend

Nonprofit’s goal is to plant 500,000 trees by 2050

Nonprofit TreesCharlotte launches its tree-planting season this weekend with three different events: a stewardship event at Highland Mills Montessori School in NoDa on Friday, a NeighborWoods planting in the Northwoods neighborhood in northwest Charlotte on Saturday and a school planting at Winget Park Elementary in southwest Charlotte, also on Saturday. The events mark the first of the tree-planting season, which in Charlotte extends from October through April.

“We’re eager to kick off our planting season with three events in different areas of the city,” said Dave Cable, executive director of TreesCharlotte. “Over the course of the season, we expect to plant 5,000 trees in neighborhoods, schools and parks throughout Charlotte and give away at least another 6,000 seedlings.”

The Highland Mills Montessori stewardship event is a follow-up to a planting in March in which 33 trees were planted on the school grounds, 176 were given to area residents and 350 seedlings were given to students. At stewardship events, TreesCharlotte volunteers replace trees that died, mulch, lightly prune and stake trees as needed. United HealthCare employees are serving as volunteers for this event, which will be held on Friday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the school, located at 3201 Clemson Ave., Charlotte.

On Saturday, a new school planting will be held at Winget Park Elementary School in southwest Charlotte, which is sponsored by Women’s Impact Fund and Force Management. School officials, students, parents and volunteers from Force Management and CapGemini will plant 153 trees on the school grounds. Species to be planted include Redbud, Mountain Silverbell, Styrax, Rainbow Pillar, Autumn Brilliance, Live Oak, Maple, River Birch and Cherry. The event runs on Saturday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the school, located at 12235 Winget Road, Charlotte.

Also on Saturday, TreesCharlotte will host its first NeighborWoods event of the season at the Northwoods neighborhood in northwest Charlotte. Trees will be given away to Northwoods residents on a first-come, first-serve basis and include the following species: October Glory Red Maple, Black Gum, Carolina Hornbeam, Carolina Silverbell, Rainbow Pillar Serviceberry and Green Giant Arborvitae. TreesCharlotte expects to give away about 275 trees (8 feet high at planting) at the event. Tree experts will provide a planting demonstration and educate residents about choosing the proper tree. Residents must sign a stewardship pledge form, committing to care for the trees, and are responsible for planting the trees in their own yard. The event will run from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the neighborhood clubhouse, 10201 Northwoods Forest Drive, Charlotte.

Funding for NeighborWoods events comes from TreesCharlotte donations. This season, citywide tree giveaways will be held on Sat., Nov. 14, and Sat., April 9, 2016.

The media is invited to attend these plantings along with upcoming plantings, which include:

• Sat., Oct. 17, 9-11:30 a.m. – Lakewood NeighborWoods, 3127 Kalynne St.
• Fri., Oct. 23, 12:30-3:30 p.m. – Lake Wylie Elementary School Planting, 13620 Erwin Road
• Sat., Oct. 24, 9-11:30 a.m. – Commonwealth/Morningside NeighborWoods
• Thurs., Oct. 29, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Woodbury NeighborWoods
• Sat., Oct. 31, 9-11:30 a.m. – Nathaniel Alexander/Morehead STEM Planting, 7910 Neal Road

For a full calendar of events, visit www.treescharlotte.org/calendar

This weekend’s events are fully staffed with volunteers. For volunteer opportunities in the future, visit www.treescharlotte.org/volunteer. TreesCharlotte is scheduling NeighborWoods plantings for next year, starting in October 2016. Neighborhoods interested in participating can contact TreesCharlotte executive director Dave Cable at dave@treescharlotte.org.

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.