Tennesseans invited to plant trees on Tennessee Tree Day, March 21
Order trees online through March 1 at tectn.org/tennesseetreeday
GRANVILLE – Tennessee residents are invited to take part in the nation’s largest single-day tree planting event on March 21. Trees are available to reserve online for a $2.49 or $4.99 donation per tree, depending on species, now through March 1 or while supplies last.
Wildwood Resort and Marina in Granville is one of the pick-up locations in Middle Tennessee. They will have volunteers handing out trees on Friday, March 20 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday, March 21 from 7:30 a.m. to noon. The event is organized by the Tennessee Environmental Council in its effort to maintain a healthy tree canopy in communities across Tennessee.
There are also 114 other volunteer-run tree pick-up locations set up across Tennessee. This event typically draws tens of thousands of volunteers who plant their trees at their homes, farms, businesses, neighborhoods and other locations of their choosing.
“We are thrilled each year to make trees available for the people of Tennessee to beautify their properties and participate in the largest community-tree-planting event in America,” says Jeffrey Barrie, CEO of Tennessee Environmental Council. “The benefits to our families, our environment and our communities are priceless and last for generations, as Tennesseans watch their trees grow year after year,” says Barrie.
Tennessee Environmental Council’s Tree Program was established in 2007 with a goal of planting one million native trees across the state to help repopulate trees lost to development and other causes and increase biodiversity. The organization has planted over 640,000 trees since 2007 fulfilling the mission to educate and advocate for the conservation and improvement of Tennessee’s environment, communities and public health.
Natasha Deane, co-owner of Wildwood Resort and Marina, has also organized the annual Adopt-a-Stream River Cleanup and Wildwood Open House to be in conjunction with this year’s Tree Day event.
“We’re excited to be a part of the Tennessee Tree Day again this season,” said Deane. “At our location, we’ll have several native tree species available including Elderberry, Bur Oak, Loblolly Pine, Sycamore, and Indigo bush. Last year we planted over twenty-five trees and shrubs on the campus of Wildwood. We plan to double that number this spring as well as double the number of bags of trash we remove from the river too.”
Wildwood Resort and Marina is located along the shores of the Cumberland River in Granville. Last February, Wildwood was recognized for having the most volunteers across Middle Tennessee in the Cumberland River Compact’s (CRC) Adopt-a-Stream program.
“In addition to a great day of handing out trees and providing gloves and bags for the river cleanup, Wildwood volunteers will also be treated to a delicious lunch provided by Wildwood’s Timberloft Lakeside Restaurant,” says Deane.
To learn more about Wildwood’s efforts, see www.wildwoodresorttn.com/treeday.
The event is sponsored by numerous funders and agencies including the Memorial Foundation, the Tennessee Department of Forestry, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Core Development, Sharing Change and TVA. A complete list of event sponsors is featured on the event website.
