Cultivating Vibrant Public Greenspaces

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We need your help planting trees at Echo Lake Park We need your help planting trees at Echo Lake Park on 3/13 and Eastern Henrico Rec Center on 3/14. You're invited to step off the pavement, get your hands in the dirt, and be part of planting a greener, healthier city. We'll teach you tree-planting best practices and you'll get hands-on experience you can take home to your own yard. Learn more and sign up from the link in our bio. 👆 @henricorecparks @stewartheartcrew
Capital Trees exists to lead initiatives that use Capital Trees exists to lead initiatives that use public landscapes and tree canopy to awaken, restore, and transform our city and the people who live in it. Because zoning shapes where trees can be planted, how long they can survive, and who benefits from shade and greenspace, it directly affects the long-term health, resilience, and livability of Richmond. While much of the Zoning Code Refresh is forward-looking, its decisions will shape neighborhoods for generations. As a trusted steward of public greenspaces and a collaborative civic partner, Capital Trees is offering focused, practical feedback to help ensure the new code supports thriving tree canopy, functional greenspace, and a healthier city over the long term. The City of Richmond’s Code Refresh is accepting comments until March 1. We put together a blog (linked from our bio) to help you offer feedback that will help promote a thriving tree canopy.
We're counting down the days until 𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘊𝘏, an art exhibition featuring the nature-inspired work of Jackie Battenfield, Kazaan Viveiros, and Naomi McCavitt at @bondmillengallery. We have the opportunity to have coffee with one of the artists next Friday, March 6th. Want to join in? Shoot us an email at info@capitaltrees.org if you'd like to attend! 🌳10% of artwork sales from the 𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘊𝘏 exhibition will be donated to Capital Trees.
*PLEASE NOTE THE DATES HAVE CHANGED FOR THIS OPPOR *PLEASE NOTE THE DATES HAVE CHANGED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY* Calling all volunteers! We're helping with a big tree-planting endeavor at Nuckols Farm Elementary School in March. We'll be on site 4 days in March, with two time slots on each day. Come solo, grab a friend, or bring the kids — no experience is necessary! Get all the details and save your spot here: bit.ly/4kgLFge 🤓 🌳 Come learn about and implement an innovative planting technique called the Miyawaki Method of Reforestation. The method involves planting young trees (whips) very close together to create a mini-forest that matures years faster than traditional reforestation methods. We'll be planting 10,000 new whips to increase the tree canopy and enhance biodiversity in Henrico — join us! @henricocountygovernment @stewartheartcrew
It's Richmond Invasive Species Awareness Week and It's Richmond Invasive Species Awareness Week and there are a variety of ways to participate! Get all the details over at @jrpsinvasives @costargroup @jamesriverpark
Capital Trees is excited to announce the 2nd annua Capital Trees is excited to announce the 2nd annual Earth Week Festival at Hotchkiss Field Community Center, on Sunday, April 26, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. We are looking for community organizations and partners to join us at the event with a table about your organization and an interactive activity that promotes a community or Earth Day theme. We are also looking for sponsors. Interested in participating? Head to the link in our bio to fill out an interest form and see our sponsorship opportunities.
🌳 Good news for tree enthusiasts — we have an 🌳 Good news for tree enthusiasts — we have another volunteering opportunity to share!🌳 We're heading to Echo Lake Park on 3/13 and Eastern Henrico Rec Center on 3/14 to plant trees. You're invited to step off the pavement, get your hands in the dirt, and be part of planting a greener, healthier city. We'll teach you tree-planting best practices and you'll get hands-on experience you can take home to your own yard. Learn more and sign up here from the link in our bio. 👆 @henricorecparks @stewartheartcrew
** Please note the 3/6 & 3/7 dates have been resch ** Please note the 3/6 & 3/7 dates have been rescheduled for 3/27 & 3/28 ** Calling all volunteers! We're helping with a big tree-planting endeavor at Nuckols Farm Elementary School in March. We'll be on site 4 days in March, with two time slots on each day. Come solo, grab a friend, or bring the kids — no experience is necessary! Get all the details and save your spot from the link in our bio. 👆 🤓 🌳 Come learn about and implement an innovative planting technique called the Miyawaki Method of Reforestation. The method involves planting young trees (whips) very close together to create a mini-forest that matures years faster than traditional reforestation methods. We'll be planting 10,000 new whips to increase the tree canopy and enhance biodiversity in Henrico — join us! @henricocountygovernment @stewartheartcrew
It's Valentine's Day weekend and spending time out It's Valentine's Day weekend and spending time outside is a simple way to show yourself some love. Spending time in nature can lower blood pressure and stress hormones, and improve the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Plug into a podcast, leash up your pup, or invite your Valentine to the Low Line, Hotchkiss Green, or another public greenspace – you'll be glad you did! ❤
Spring is around the corner, and if you need a bit Spring is around the corner, and if you need a bit of color to get you through these last weeks of winter, our colorful tees are for you! Available in 5 colors, long and short sleeve, and with two important messages to choose from — there's something for everyone. Every shirt purchased supports the planting + long-term care of public greenspaces in Richmond. Shop and support from the link in our bio.
Punxsutawney Phil may have predicted 6 more weeks Punxsutawney Phil may have predicted 6 more weeks of winter yesterday, but that won't stop us from counting down the days until spring blooms are back in the gardens. 😍
Our Executive Director, Shelly Barrick Parsons, is Our Executive Director, Shelly Barrick Parsons, is speaking at this year’s @lewisginter Winter Symposium. Her talk is titled “Walk Two Parks and Call Me in the Morning: The Essential Role of Public Greenspace in Healing.” This presentation will dig into both the science and the soil: the research that confirms the power of public greenspaces to improve health and resilience, the public landscapes Capital Trees has cultivated, and the practical steps communities can take to ensure all people have access to safe, resilient, and well-cared-for greenspaces. There’s still time to get tickets for this event, our team will be there in addition to this speaking engagement — reach out if you’d like to connect! Learn more from the link in our bio.
Earlier this month we hosted The New Garden Ethic: Earlier this month we hosted The New Garden Ethic: Rewilding for People, Pollinators & Place at the @jravirginia James A Buzzard River Education Center. Murray Fisher opened the evening with an inspiring keynote on the power of rewilding, grounding big ideas in the simple, transformative act of nurturing the earth beneath our feet. Through his own journey of rewilding his yard into a thriving sanctuary, he reminded us that when we slow down and pay attention—to what is buzzing, blooming, and taking root—we begin to see nature in all its diversity, complexity, and beauty. His story was a powerful invitation to step off the pavement and into a fresh way of thinking about our relationship with the land. Our panelists then expanded the conversation beyond individual backyards to the shared landscapes that shape community life. Together, they explored how rewilding principles can be applied to public greenspaces at a larger scale—creating habitats where pollinators can thrive and ecosystems can begin to repair themselves. The discussion surfaced both the opportunities and challenges of doing this work in public-facing spaces, from maintenance realities to the importance of clear “cues to care” that signal these places are intentional, safe, and loved. Ultimately, the conversation reinforced a core truth of our work: when we invest collectively in public greenspaces, we create welcoming sanctuaries that support pollinators, restore the environment, and strengthen the wellbeing of our entire community. Special thanks to our keynote speaker, Murray Fisher, and panelists, Nissa Richardson and Heidi James, along with the event sponsors for coming together to make this a memorable public event. @beecityrichmondva @rvaparksandrec Speaker Sponsor: Anna and Charles Aquino Understory Sponsor: @m.turner_landscapes Seedling Sponsors: @wendellwelderlandscapedesign @bryan_parkrva
Stay safe and warm #RVA, check on your neighbors, Stay safe and warm #RVA, check on your neighbors, and be careful if you venture outside. *These photos are from our greenspaces during past snow days and shouldn't be used as measuring sticks for current conditions outside. ❄️
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