Residents in the Towne Forest neighborhood along Blythe Street will receive trees on Sunday, October 14, which they will plant at their homes. The 33 trees are provided at no charge by Hendersonville to homeowners who signed up to participate in its NeighborWoods Project.
These residents have agreed to plant, maintain, and care for the trees so they will thrive and increase the urban-forest tree cover in the city. A demonstration will be given on that day to show participants how to properly dig the soil, amend it, and plant the new trees to increase the chances of success. Among the trees to be added to the homes and landscape will be Appalachian dogwoods, Blaze maples, redbud, Japanese maples, crape myrtle, and several hollies.
“I am happy that my neighbors are interested and willing to commit to this program,” said Joshua Friesen, a Towne Forest resident who helped organize the program in his neighborhood. “This long-standing neighborhood will be able to add new trees to fill in where old ones have been lost. The NeighborWoods project is a great benefit to the City and neighborhoods like ours.”
More than 200 trees have been planted in Hendersonville through the NeighborWoods program since 2010, including projects in Hyman Heights Historic Neighborhood where 35 new trees have been added to the numerous “historic” trees in the neighborhood; Hendersonville Community Co-op where more than 14 trees and numerous pollinator plants and shrubs were installed to enhance the storm water wetland behind the new storefront; 84 American dogwoods installed on properties along Fifth Avenue West, creating a beautiful springtime display; Regal Oaks affordable-housing project for senior citizens, where at least 10 fig and cherry trees were planted; a project in Green Meadows which included fruit and nut trees; and Druid Hills Historic Neighborhood, where 35 trees were planted last year at homes and in the neighborhood’s Keith Park. The City was recently named Tree City of the Year in North Carolina due to such citizen-supported programs.
Donations to the NeighborWoods Tree Fund can be made through Community Foundation of Henderson County to help keep the popular tree-planting program thriving. The funds are used by Hendersonville Tree Board to purchase trees for residents to plant in yards, at businesses, in neighborhood green spaces, and where needed. The Tree Board’s program aims to assist residents to plant and maintain trees for health, beauty, wildlife, and to increase our urban forest coverage.
To learn more about the NeighborWoods Project and how individuals and organizations can participate, or to make a donation to the NeighborWoods Tree Fund, visit the Tree Board website at www.hvlnc.gov/neighborwoods-projects. Or email [email protected].