September Meeting Presentation: What’s Your Why? Trees!
Thank you to Erik McNair (Director Trees Roanoke, VP Roanoke Tree Stewards) and Chris Bryant (VP Trees Roanoke, Master Gardener, Tree Steward) for joining us at our September neighborhood meeting to share the importance of trees and to encourage our community involvement in Roanoke's urban forestry efforts.
The Roanoke Tree Stewards, founded in 2009, are trained volunteers who work with the City of Roanoke Parks & Recreation Department on tree planting, pruning, monitoring, and education. Trees Roanoke, founded in 2018 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, supports these efforts by securing grants and donations to purchase trees for planting on public city property.
Why Trees Matter
McNair and Bryant walked us through several environmental benefits of trees. Trees help filter air pollutants and store carbon, provide shade and cooling through evapotranspiration, and reduce stormwater runoff by slowing rainfall and improving soil infiltration. These benefits make trees an important part of a healthy and sustainable urban environment.
Tree Steward Activities
Tree stewardship takes place throughout the year. Spring activities include planting bare-root trees in gravel beds and watering young trees. Fall focuses on community planting projects, while winter includes structural pruning of young street trees. Tree Stewards also lead seasonal tree-identification walks to educate residents about native and specimen trees.
Several recent special projects include a Heat Island Study with Virginia Tech, which examined urban temperatures, tree plantings across Roanoke neighborhoods, the city's Year of the Tree 2024 proclamation, production and distribution of educational videos on tree care, and youth planting demonstrations to students.
Community Involvement: Where we come in!
How can residents support Roanoke's urban forest? By planting appropriate native trees, donating to Trees Roanoke, participating in City Council discussions, watering newly planted trees, removing invasive vines such as English ivy from existing trees. And consider becoming Tree Stewards!
Remember to contact the city before planting trees on public property such as the tree lawn (that grassy area between curb and sidewalk).
Tree Plantings in SoRo
In 2024, SoRo established an ongoing effort to grow our neighborhood's tree canopy. Check out the Tree Planting Event page for details on how to participate!
Maintaining Roanoke's urban forest requires cooperation among the city, nonprofit organizations, trained volunteers, and us, the residents. Together, we can help protect and expand Roanoke's tree canopy and its environmental benefits.
