Hendersonville Tree Board partners with Grace Lutheran Church to plant trees

From a press release:

Hendersonville Tree Board partners with Grace Lutheran Church to plant trees

(Hendersonville, NC) – Friday, April 17, will be the day that volunteers will plant 20 trees along Bearcat Loop Parkway. The Hendersonville Tree Board has partnered with Grace Lutheran Church, which owns land along the west side of the Loop, so that trees can be planted. From the entrance at U.S. 64 W., more than 70 trees will enhance the entryway to Hendersonville Elementary School and Hendersonville Middle School at the end of the day. Volunteers are invited to assist with planting the trees in pre-dug holes, starting at 1 p.m. Phone Tree board chair Mac Brackett at 692-3026 to sign up or email macbrackett@ioa.com.

The April planting will add to the growing urban forest along the roadway where students and parents arrive and depart daily during the school year. More than 50 trees were planted last fall by students and volunteers along the east side of the parkway.

Nurseryman Wes Burlingame, a member of the Tree Board, and landscape architect Bruce Lowe selected a variety of hardwoods, fruit trees and ornamentals to include in the landscape plan.

“We have chosen a variety of native trees to enhance the school entryway,” Burlingame said. “The Tree Board is pleased to include native fruit trees such as American Paw Paw and American Plum as well as American Beech, American Chestnut, Bald Cypress and several types of magnolia. The students nearby are learning a great deal about trees while this project is in progress.”

Callaway Crabapple, Redbud, Scarlet Oak, Serviceberry, Sourwood, Striped Maple, Virginia Fringetree, Persimmon, Carolina Silverbell, and White Oak are also on the list to be planted.

During this year’s Arbor Day celebration, which is planned for Friday, May 1, at 11 a.m., school children will plant the last tree along the west side of Bearcat Loop. The public is invited to attend the Arbor Day event.

“We are pleased to partner with the City of Hendersonville to enable this tree-planting project,” said Mark Madsen, a member of the landscape committee at Grace Lutheran Church. “It will enhance the landscape along Bearcat Loop and provide enjoyment for school children as they grow up.”

The project is funded by request through the Tree Board’s annual budget, which is supported by the Hendersonville City Council, according to Mac Brackett, Chair of the Tree Board. The objective is to provide low-maintenance landscaping that emphasizes multiseasonal appeal and edible fruits and nuts.

Hendersonville Tree Board is commissioned to study, investigate, counsel, develop and/or update and administer a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal, or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and in other public areas. The Tree Board educates the public as to the economic and aesthetic benefits of trees and shrubs to Hendersonville and its citizens. The board is composed of residents and landowners in the City of Hendersonville. Members are appointed by Hendersonville City Council. To learn more about Hendersonville Tree Board and its projects visit the webpage at http://cityofhendersonville.org/index.aspx?page=285.