Reforesting School Campuses
Addressing the lack of adequate tree canopy on public school campuses in through targeted tree plantings.
Volunteers shovel mulch into piles near spots designated for tree plantings at J.L. Francis Elementary School.
A member of Groundwork RVA’s Green Workforce Crew breaks ground at Henderson Middle School to plant a young eastern redbud tree.
Challenge
Due to COVID-19 and the transition to virtual learning, a key initiative to help increase tree canopy by sending seedlings home with Richmond Public Schools students was canceled. Southside ReLeaf joined Reforest Richmond in its efforts to pivot by giving away and planting 12,000 eastern redbud trees. The organization identified schools most in need of trees for reforestation, prioritizing schools—many in South Richmon—that lack tree canopies due to how the land was cleared of all trees for development, and new trees were not planted in adequate quantities. Our goal was to work with RPS and school administrators to find adequate homes for 2,000 redbud trees to help create a healthy canopy for school campuses.
Co-founder Sheri Shannon rocks overalls and prepares to dig a hole at John Marshall High School to plant a tree.
“I think the trees will really change the feel of so many areas in Richmond for the better, especially the Southside. I know how much of a difference more trees will make for people in my community on really hot or really rainy days. The environmental climate change movement is taking on a more inclusive approach in the city and this is exciting to see as someone who is a product of historically under-served communities.”
Project Timeline
The work for this project took place between November and December 2020.
Our Partners
Reforest Richmond
Richmond Public Schools
Groundwork RVA
Dominion Energy
Richmond Community ToolBank
City of Richmond: Urban Forestry division; Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities (PRCF); RVAH2O, and Office of Sustainability
Richmond Public Libraries
VCU Office of Sustainability
Results
Tree planting on November 20: We planted 40 trees at Henderson Middle School and John Marshall High School.
Tree planting on November 21: We planted 100 trees at Miles Jones Elementary School, Swansboro Elementary School, and George Wythe High School.
Tree planting on December 12: We planted 100 trees at J.L. Francis Elementary School, G.H. Reid Elementary School, and Summer Hill Preschool.
At J.B. Fisher Elementary School, a volunteer starts the process of planting a new tree.
A member of Groundwork RVA’s Green Workforce Crew transports a wheelbarrow full of mulch to spread at the base of newly planted trees at John Marshall High School.
Impact
Many of the eastern redbud trees that were planted on school campuses through this project have survived and are growing strong, in large part thanks to Groundwork RVA, whose team made sure the trees received adequate watering.
As a result of this project, we mobilized a lot of students who came to our planting events and wanted to start environmental clubs at their schools. As those students grow up, their interest in environmental issues will result in more adult residents of the city who are engaged in protecting and advocating for green policies and practices.
Throughout the process and following our efforts to reforest school campuses, we learned that the city needs to develop a stronger relationship with RPSs. Currently, RPS doesn’t have a mechanism to plan and plant trees for school campuses, nor does the school system employ a horticulturist or arborist to help maintain plantings. Through a stronger relationship with the city and increased capacity within the city to manage tree canopy, RPS could access help from the city’s experts to support tree plantings and maintenance on school campuses.
This need was a large part of why we advocated for an urban forester position to be created in Richmond, an effort that was successful. The city’s first urban forester was hired in July 2023 with a focus on increasing community engagement and providing better transparency in the work of expanding and maintaining the city’s urban canopy.
A volunteer at J.B. Fisher Elementary School uses cardboard as a weed barrier for the sapling.