Henrico celebrates Arbor Day with 10,000 trees planted this year

Since January, Henrico has planted 10,000 new native tree seedlings in public areas throughout the county. 

The efforts have cost the county “little to nothing,” said Deputy County Manager Steve Yob, with Henrico using local volunteers and grants from the U.S. Department of Forestry. During the past three years, the county has planted a total of 17,700 new native trees.

When Henrico's Environmental Action Resource Team (or HEART) began efforts in partnership with Richmond's Capital Trees in 2023, using 180 seedlings gifted by the Department of Forestry, about 50 community volunteers came out to Lake Hening to help plant.

“Those 180 trees are new seven and eight feet tall in some cases, and they were just sticks when we put them in three years ago,” Yob said. “That cost the county nothing other than my time and some volunteers. It was a community effort, you saw faces from all walks of life.”

Tree planting events have continued to be very popular among community members. The county recently worked with volunteers to plant 1,000 trees and create walking trails near Echo Lake Park and is working on reforesting efforts near Nuckols Farm Elementary School that will include 6,000 new trees.

HEART has also held community planting events at Deep Run Park, Dorey Park, Cheswick Park, Eastern Henrico Recreation Center and Fairfield Middle School.

Replenishing Henrico’s tree canopy has many positive benefits for residents and the county, Yob said: forests are less expensive for the county to maintain than grass lawns, combat the heat island effect, and support native wildlife in the area.

Tree planting has been a priority cited by residents in past county surveys, he said.

“Trees are always cited as something people want to see,” Yob said. “Having access to nature, having shade – nobody wants to sit on a bench in the hot sun in the summer.”

After taking a break during the hot summer months, the county will relaunch tree planting efforts this fall and will welcome suggestions from residents, Yob said. The county only plants in publicly-owned areas, but has partnered with the Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District in the past to give away thousands of native tree seedlings to residents. 

Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s government and education reporter. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.