Metro East Tree Week

We here at HeartLands Conservancy are all about trees. Why? Because trees are vitally important to our planet and our wellbeing. Find out the benefits of trees, what HeartLands is doing to raise awareness and help reforest Southern Illinois, and how you can help.

The Benefits of Trees | There are many benefits to trees. Most people are familiar with how trees produce oxygen through photosynthesis. But did you know that trees also clean our air by absorbing odors and pollutant gasses, such as carbon dioxide, through their leaves and storing it in their bark and roots? The benefits of trees don’t stop there! Trees are also crucial in…

• Cooling streets and communities by providing shade and releasing water vapor through their leaves.

• Reducing electric bills by cutting air conditioning needs in the summer.

• Lowering water bills by slowing water evaporation from the lawn.

• Reducing water pollution and soil erosion.

• Healing! Patients with trees outside of their hospital windows heal faster than those without trees. Neighborhoods that have more trees are less violent than barren ones.

• Providing important food, shelter, and cover for wildlife. For example, the federally endangered native pollinator, the Northern Long-Eared bat roosts and forages in upland forest trees during the spring and summer.

Tree Week 2022 | From Earth Day to Arbor Day, HeartLands Conservancy will celebrate trees in a BIG way! During Metro East Tree Week 2022, we will spread the message far and wide about the benefits trees provide, and there will be activities for people of all ages. Throughout the week, HeartLands Conservancy will also give over 175 trees to local communities.

Friday, April 22 at 6:30 pm: Earth Day Exclusive White Oak Society Earth Day Tour of Poag Sand Prairie. Invitations will be sent to White Oak members.

Monday, April 25: Community Tree Distribution Day Free trees for communities and community organizations for planting in public places.

Tree ID Class

Tuesday, April 26 at 6:30 pm: Tree ID Course and Walk-about at HeartLands Conservancy’s office A short course open to the public on how to identify trees and a sunset city walk around Belleville to put your skills to the test. Registration required. See our website.

Wednesday, April 27: Kids Experience Day with Fairmont City Schools Fairmont City schools will be involved in local and hands-on restoration efforts to improve their community through reforestation and wetland preservation.

Thursday, April 28 at 1:00 pm: Tree City USA Informational Session A one-hour virtual seminar for municipalities on how to become a Tree City USA, and how HeartLands Conservancy can help. See our website for more information.

Jamie Bossart & Students at OTHS

Friday, April 29: Tree Planting Day (Arbor Day) Tree planting in communities.

Saturday, April 30: HLC Native Plant Sale Order Pickup Check out heartlandsconservancy. org/native-plant-sale/ for event registration.

Metro East Tree Week 2021 Impact | The 2nd Annual Metro East Tree Week was a great success. HeartLands Conservancy gave away over 1,000 trees to local communities and individuals throughout the week! Most trees were planted in public places in Collinsville, O’Fallon, Swansea, and Belleville.

How You Can Help Become a Tree Steward | Are you interested in learning how to plant, monitor, and care for the trees in your community? Consider becoming a Tree Steward! No prior experience is needed. Tree Stewards are trained volunteers who help plant, monitor, and care for new trees in southwestern Illinois communities. Tree Stewards complete a six-week virtual training program, meeting one hour a week to learn about trees, their benefits and care, and learning practical hands-on skills in six key areas:

• Tree identification

• Biology

• Soils

• Planting

• Pruning

• Insects & Diseases

After completing the training,Tree Stewards will plant and carefor a tree provided by HeartLandsConservancy. Graduates of the TreeSteward Program receive a freet-shirt and certificate of participation.We ask that Tree Stewards provide24 hours of volunteer serviceannually in community forests,parks, and HLC projects such as theSwansea Exploration Garden.If you are interested in the TreeSteward Program or volunteeringwith HeartLands Conservancy,please complete the VolunteerApplication located on our websiteat https://heartlandsconservancy.org/volunteer/.

For questions, please contactBrittany Schweiger at brittany.schweiger@heartlandsconservancy.org or call 618-566-4451 ex. 25.

SWANSEA EXPLORATION GARDEN

Located just south of Fletcher’sKitchen and Tap in Swansea atthe Clinton Hills ConservationPark is the Swansea ExplorationGarden. HeartLands Conservancybegan the transformation of thefront section of this former golfcourse into a public demonstrationgarden and outdoor classroom.The 6-acre garden will featurewildflower meadows, nativeplant exhibits, interactive art,and rainwater demonstrations.Transformation of the site beganin 2020, and a majority should becompleted by the end of the year!