Metro East Tree Week • April 22-30

CELEBRATE TREES FROM EARTH DAY TO ARBOR DAY

Trees are vital to life. As the biggest plants on the planet, they give us oxygen, store carbon and stormwater, and stabilize the soil. They also provide us with the materials for tools, shelter, and furniture. Trees provide a variety of habitats to support wildlife, insects and other pollinators, and even fungus.

You likely walk or drive past hundreds of trees every day. But how often do you stop to recognize those trees and the services they provide? Do you think about the how they make our lives better just by existing?

Last year, Heartlands Conservancy started a new celebration. We called it Metro East Tree Week, and we encouraged people to plant trees on their own property. We shared lots of information and how-to videos on tree benefits and tree planting. The effort was a success. You planted over 300 trees in a two-week period. Then, we matched each of those trees with a tree planted in a public park last fall. It was so successful and so fun, we are doing Metro East Tree Week again!

From Earth Day to Arbor Day Heartlands Conservancy will be celebrating trees in a BIG way!

Tree Week 2021 will provide tree celebration activities for all ages. Activities will include socially distant outdoor activities and virtual options. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for daily videos and activities about trees.

The following Tree Week special events will require preregistration. Registration for each event can be found on the website, www. heartlandsconservancy.org/treeplanting.php, or by calling 618-566-4451 ext 23.

April 22 | Last Day to Purchase Tribute Trees

Tribute Trees can be purchased in honor or memory of someone or something important to the buyer. To donate a tree in honor of someone special visit: www.heartlandsconservancy.org/ treeplanting.php. Tribute Trees are available for sale through April 22 or until they are sold out. Anyone is welcome to help plant these trees on Arbor Day, April 30th by joining HLC to help plant the Tribute Grove in the Exploration Garden in Swansea.

April 25 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM | Healing Forest Walk

Forest therapy walks take you away from your day to day stressors into a relationship with nature. In forest therapy, the forest is the therapist and the guide helps you slow down and connect with the forest. Also called Shinrin-Yoku or forest bathing, the benefits have been researched and shown to include lowered cortisol (the stress hormone), lowered blood pressure, and improved immune function. The enjoyable walk is about 1 mile and usually lasts about 3 hours. The walk will be guided by Keri Luly, who has been trained and certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs. Registration is required and limited.

April 27 | Noon | Storytime with Jennifer Ward “The Busy Tree”

Metro-East resident, Jennifer Ward is the author of more than 25 awardwinning nonfiction and fiction books for children and adults. Tune in to listen to her read her book THE BUSY TREE, which chronicles the many ways a tree works as a habitat for a variety of species, from roots to tree top. Participants may register to attend via Zoom or watch live on Facebook or YouTube. For those who can not watch live, a recording of storytime will be shared afterward.

April 28 | 6:00 PM Ask an Arborist Webinar

Register on the website to attend via Zoom, or watch Live on Facebook or YouTube.

April 30 | 4:00 - 6:00 PM | Arbor Day Tribute Tree Planting at the Exploration Garden

Celebrate Arbor Day by joining HLC at the Exploration Garden at Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park to help plant the Tribute Grove. Trees in this new woodland area have been purchased in honor or memory of someone or something. Anyone is welcome to come help plant the trees. Bring shovels, boots and gloves are recommended, and HLC will also have shovels available. More information on how to donate a Tribute Tree can be found on our website under What We Do> Urban Forestry > Metro East Tree Planting Week. Tribute Trees are available for sale through April 22 or until all 50 trees have been purchased.

There are 3 ways we are gifting trees this year.

In addition to fun and educational activities, HeartLands Conservancy will give over 1,300 free trees to local communities and people during Tree Week 2021.

Callery/Bradford Pear Exchange

Form due by April 14 Pick up April 26th

One of the worst invasive species in our region (and still sold in nurseries!) is Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana). Also known as: ‘Bradford’, ‘Aristocrat’, ‘Autumn Blaze’, ‘Capital’, ‘Chanticleer’, Cleveland Select’, ‘New Bradford’, ‘Redspire’, and ‘Whitehouse’ Pear. Centers sell these trees because of their spring/fall appeal. Callery/ Bradford Pear trees are often planted in neighborhoods for their early spring blooms, short stature, and upright growth patterns. Initially sold as “infertile” trees, they are crosspollinated by other pear species and create voracious, mutant trees that are widely spread by birds who eat their berries. The seeds are distributed in our region’s forests and natural areas, causing harm to the plants and wildlife that live there.

NOW IS THE TIME! Chop down those Callery pears, and we will give you a free native tree to replace it! Complete the online form, including photographic proof you killed that invasive tree, and you can get a brand new native tree for free. There are a variety of replacement trees to choose from, but supplies are limited.

Community Trees

Form due by April 14 Pick up April 26th

Did you know that communities in the Metro East have only 24% tree cover on average? However, our region has the ability to increase tree canopy to 48%. HeartLands Conservancy has been working for the past several years to reach that canopy goal! To do this, we are providing free trees to communities and community/ non-profit organizations to plant in public places. Qualifying planting areas include parks, public rights-of-way, schools, libraries, community gardens/ centers, churches, other institutions, and public services. The form is available on our website and supplies are limited.

Nominate a Giving Tree Recipient

Form due by April 14 Pick up April 26th

Do you know someone who deserves or would enjoy planting and caring for a tree, but maybe can’t afford one? Nominate them (or yourself!) to receive a giving tree, with materials and planting support. To nominate yourself or a Giving Tree recipient, please complete the required form on the website. There are a limited number of Giving Trees.

To apply to receive any of these free trees listed here, please visit our website, https://www. heartlandsconservancy.org/ treeplanting.php and complete the required form.

Forms are due by April 14th. Recipients will be notified by April 19th and sent detailed pick-up instructions.