News

NeighborWoods program aims to increase tree canopy

By Lightning Reports, Published: April 1, 2024

Hendersonville’s tree canopy will grow this spring as participating neighborhoods and homeowners receive free trees through the city’s NeighborWoods program.

Coordinated by Hendersonville Tree Board, the NeighborWoods program aims to protect and improve tree cover, wildlife habitat, energy conservation and beautification while adding health benefits to the community through more trees. The program is available to all Hendersonville residents.
Blue Ridge Villas, a development behind Blue Ridge Mall, is adding 24 new trees planted by residents. They include serviceberry, two types of magnolia, redbuds and flowering dogwoods, which will beautify streets and common areas in the development.
A homeowner in the historic neighborhood of Druid Hills, which is known for its large mature trees, will be planting new sweetbay magnolias and a dogwood.
Park Place condominiums, off Greenville Highway, will be adding 15 large saplings to the landscape there, with a couple of red oaks and crabapples along with serviceberry, redbuds and dogwoods.
Along U.S. 191, residents at Henderson Village, are taking advantage of the free trees to add eight mid-height dogwoods, crabapples, redbud and serviceberries. These handsome specimens will be beautiful and support wildlife and pollinators for years.
According to the Arbor Day Foundation, which sponsors the Tree City USA program, the nation has experienced a serious decline in tree cover in urban areas. One representative of the U.S. Forest Service has said that “urban deforestation compares with what’s going on in the world’s rain forests.”
As a long-time and award-winning member of the Tree City USA program, Hendersonville works to protect and restore urban trees. More than 400 trees have been planted in Hendersonville neighborhoods and historic districts, along thoroughfares and at businesses and schools through the NeighborWoods program since 2010.
The NeighborWoods program was created to help residents replace trees and improve the environmental and economic benefits that trees provide. Funds to purchase trees come from budget allocations by the City to the Tree Board,
To learn more about the NeighborWoods Program and how individuals and organizations can participate, visit the Tree Board website at www.hvlnc.gov/neighborwoods-projects or email coordinator Mac Brackett at macbrackett@ioa.com.