Posts Categorized: Blog

March — The Fundamentals of Public Greenspaces Cultivating Community: Prioritizing Engagement in Public Greenspace Design and Care

Did you know that people with greater access to greenspaces are 44% less likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder? Reports from the National Recreation and Park Association also suggest that physical activity in greenspaces has stronger mental health benefits than physical activity in non-greenspaces (1). These statistics highlight how essential greenspaces are for both physical and mental well-being.

February — The Fundamentals of Public Greenspaces 15 Years of Growth: Capital Trees and the Building Blocks of Great Greenspaces

Creating truly exceptional public greenspaces requires more than just planting a few trees. It demands careful consideration of every element that makes these places accessible, comfortable, and engaging for everyone. At Capital Trees, we’ve spent the last 15 years learning and growing, refining our approach to urban greening, and focusing on the fundamental components that transform ordinary spaces into vibrant community hubs.

January — The Fundamentals of Public Greenspaces

Welcome to our 2025 focus: The Fundamentals of Public Greenspaces

Founded in 2010, Capital Trees was built on the values of collaboration, conservation, and community. A dedicated group of women launched Capital Trees after being inspired by a statewide conservation conference and a presentation on integrating tree canopy and greenspaces into urban planning by Rachel Flynn, who was serving as the City of Richmond’s Planner at the time.

December — Tree Talk

Trees. They’re part of our name for a reason. They make up an integral part of parks and green spaces, providing food, shelter, and shade. They filter stormwater runoff and clean our air. They add beauty and benefits for generations to come. And while they’re just one component of our work, they’re an important one, which is why we’ve been focusing on trees with our blog this year. As we look back on 2024,

November — Tree Talk 

Since early November, with community support, Capital Trees has planted over 60 trees in the Richmond region furthering our efforts to expand our tree canopy and build a greener and more vibrant community. As our volunteers learned over the last few weeks, planting a tree is more than just pulling it out of the pot (or removing the burlap/wire) and dropping the tree into the ground. There are several steps that come well before planting day to give trees the best chance to both survive transplant and thrive for years to come.  

October — Tree Talk 

2024 Richmond Tree Week

This year’s Richmond Tree Week marked the 5th annual city-wide week celebrating all things tree! Taking place from October 11 – October 20 this year, more than 20 community organizations participated in 40 free tree-centric events throughout the city of Richmond. Over the course of ten days, Richmonders came together to plant trees, give away free tree seedlings, attend educational workshops, take part in walking and biking tours,

September — Tree Talk 

In 2022, Henrico County reached out to Capital Trees to launch a reforestation effort.  In conversation with county staff and the Va Department of Forestry, a reforestation pilot program at parks and schools in Henrico was approved by the Henrico County Board of Supervisors and Capital Trees in the spring of 2023 (1, 2).  The program officially launched in the summer of 2023 with tree canopy and inventory work at the selected Henrico County parks and schools. 

August Tree Talk: Working together towards a greener RVA.   

By: Anne Poarch, Director of Advancement for Capital Trees

On August 26, Capital Trees celebrated the groundbreaking on our latest project, the Hotchkiss Green, at the Hotchkiss Field Community Center in Richmond’s Highland Park neighborhood. This new greenspace will transform two acres of treeless turf into an inviting urban landscape that includes walking trails, seating areas, shade trees, a pollinator garden, and native shrubs and perennials.

July Tree Talk: 2024 Greater and Greener Conference 

By: Shelly Barrick Parsons, Executive Director

A delegation representing Capital Trees attended the Greater and Greener Conference in Seattle, Washington June 21-25.  Sponsored by City Parks Alliance, Greater and Greener is the biennial conference for urban parks professionals from all sectors (government, nonprofit, foundations, business). Richmond was well represented at the conference with additional attendees from the City of Richmond’s Parks,

June Tree Talk: Trees and Bees

During the recent BioBlitz hosted and sponsored by Capital Trees, tables were set up under the shade of the ample cottonwood tree at Great Shiplock Park. Cyclists and walkers alike waded through the cottony masses that settled onto the ground after each breeze. The cottonwood tree, a type of poplar, is pollinated by the wind carrying pollen from the male flowers to the female ovules. Insects, such as bees can help the process by carrying pollen from one tree to the next.