News

Hyman Heights greening up

By Bill Moss, Published: March 9, 2017

Residents of historic Hyman Heights are greening up their neighborhood.

Residents will receive trees on Saturday to plant on their property. The 35 free trees are provided by Hendersonville Tree Board as part of its NeighborWoods Project. 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 Saturday to show participants how to properly dig the soil, amend it, and plant the new trees to increase the chances of success.
“I am happy that my neighbors are interested and willing to commit to this program,” said Suzanne Hale, a Hyman Heights resident who helped organize the program in her neighborhood. “This is an older neighborhood, and it’s a good idea to add new trees to fill in where old ones have been lost.”
More than 150 trees have been planted in Hendersonville through the NeighborWoods program since 2010. At Regal Oaks affordable-housing project for senior citizens, at least 10 fig and cherry trees were planted; 84 American dogwoods were installed on properties along Fifth Avenue West, creating a beautiful springtime display; Hendersonville Community Co-op has planted more than 14 trees and numerous pollinator plants and shrubs to enhance the storm water wetland behind the new storefront; a project in Green Meadows included fruit and nut trees.
The NeighborWoods Tree Fund has been created at Community Foundation of Henderson County to accept donations which will keep the tree-planting program growing. 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 treeboard@hvlnc.gov.