Arbor Day Tree Giveaway In Greenville

Press release from the City of Greenville:

April 26, 2021

The City of Greenville and Trees Upstate, in partnership with Duke Energy, Green Infrastructure Center and the South Carolina Forestry Commission, will co-host an Arbor Day tree giveaway, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 30, at Conestee Park.

More than 200 trees potted in containers will be available on a first come, first served basis. Residents can choose from a variety of species, all native to South Carolina’s Upstate region, including: red maple, black tupelo, pignut hickory, swamp white oak, overlap oak, nutgall oak, white oak, shumard oak, bald cypress.

Why is the City focusing on tree canopy restoration?

The majority of Greenville's trees were planted in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and close to a century later, they are aging out. A recent study by the Green Infrastructure Center found that only 36% of the city of Greenville is currently under a tree canopy.

To protect and enhance the natural environment and aesthetic beauty of our community, the City is actively working to preserve existing trees and promote and support tree planting efforts citywide. As part of that effort, the City has committed to planting 1,000 trees annually in City parks and the public right-of-way. The City will also conduct an ongoing public awareness campaign – including tree giveaway events – to encourage city residents to plant trees on private property.

This press release was produced by the City of Greenville. The views expressed here are the author’s own.