Seven Hills School Students Reforest Pine Camp Arts and Community Center

Students Reforest Pine Camp Arts and Community Center

Local students plant 40 native trees as part of the Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant Program to restore Pine Camp’s lost forest.

RICHMOND, Va. — Pine Camp Arts and Community Center is helping to protect Virginia’s watershed by planting trees. In November, the City of Richmond’s Parks and Recreation Department teamed up with Seven Hills School, and the Enrichmond Tree Lab, a nonprofit greenhouse that grows native trees and plants, to plant more than 30 Loblolly and 10 Red Cedar trees. The planting was part of the Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant Program, sponsored by the Virginian Department of Forestry and the USFS Chesapeake Watershed Forestry Program. 

The sunny day opened with a talk about the benefits of trees by Will George, Pine Camp Manager, which was followed by a watershed game where students learned about how trees slow down water and prevent erosion.  

“It’s great to see kids running around outside on a beautiful day,” said George. “Staying away from their cell phones and computers for a few hours while planting and learning about trees is the bonus. Plus, in their lifetime they can come back with their children and enjoy the benefits of these trees such as the shade that will lower the temperature on a hot summer day. This park is an undiscovered oasis on the North Side.”  

Students were given instructions on how to plant the trees by Tree Lab Manager Aaron McFarland. “It is always a joy to teach students about how to plant a tree,” said McFarland. “It gives them a sense of pride at the end of the day seeing all the work they’ve accomplished.”                                                                      

The intent of the planting was to not only restore the watershed, but to return the land to the time when the density of the trees was so thick, you could not see Azealia Avenue. Diane Hayes, Cultural Arts Manager for the City of Richmond said, “It was a crying shame to lose so many trees in the 80s and 90s to various hurricanes. What those students did for us will enhance our park for generations.”

The community effort continued in December when seven AmeriCorps team members mulched and stabilized all the trees that were planted. 

Pine Camp Arts and Community Center’s next step towards improving their watershed will be to create no-mow zones and along with Reforest Richmond, will add native saplings along the edges of the forest that connects to the lawn. This increased vegetation buffer which will improve biodiversity and habitat, reduce pest species, and decrease air pollution.

This tree planting event will take place during Earth Week on Saturday April 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers will be needed to plant trees. To participate, please call 804-646-3680. All ages will be welcome.