Capital Trees engages with our neighbors through volunteer programming and educational events.  In the last quarter, we hosted 3 private work days (Atlantic Union Bank, BHE GT&S, and South State Bank), 13 maintenance workdays, and 1 community workday totalling over 330 hours of community engagement with our gardens through volunteering.   Capital Trees hosted children from the St. James Childcare Center for a seed gathering field trip at Great Shiplock Park. Once the seeds are dry, they will create seed balls for sharing.

As part of ArborDayRVA 2022 week-long events, on Saturday, October 15, Capital Trees will sponsor a community workday (10 am – 12 pm), tree giveaway (9:30 am – 12:30 pm), and tours (10 am – 12 pm) at Great Shiplock Park. Register for the workday HERE. Learn more about ArborDayRVA events HERE.

Our increased community programming is made possible by annual gifts to Capital Trees. Thank you.

At its annual meeting in June, Capital Trees adopted a 3-year strategic plan.  Building from our mission, vision, and values, Capital Trees is focused in the following strategic program areas:

1. Build:  Capital Trees will develop a process for evaluating and prioritizing projects and initiate new projects.  We will commit to community engagement to build relationships and partnerships in the communities of future projects.
2. Manage:  Capital Trees will develop site specific plans and practices for the sustainable management of their projects including growing a strong volunteer core.
3.  Educate:  Capital Trees will be a voice for the necessity of public landscapes for all people and establish programs in our areas of expertise.

Throughout the fall and into the new year, we will be highlighting the strategic focus areas on our social media.

Along with friends in the greening and conservation community, Capital Trees board and staff mourn the loss of Hylah Boyd.  Hylah was instrumental in the founding of Capital Trees along with the presidents of the four Richmond GCV clubs in 2009.  Founding members spent hours with Hylah as she shared her wisdom and experiences about the lessons she learned when creating Scenic Virginia.  She not only helped Capital Trees imagine the framework of the organization, but also continued to be Capital Trees’ biggest cheerleader and confidence booster.

Hylah served on the Capital Trees Board and later joined the Advisory Council where she continued to lend her support. She was a pioneer championing the work of greening and responsible land use including mentoring and supporting those individuals and organizations committed to that work.  Her dedication, grit, and grace combined to make her the model servant leader striving to make the realms that she roamed better — from our highways and byways with Scenic Virginia, to our waterways and green spaces at Capital Trees, to her beloved Essex County through the Essex County Conservation Alliance, and the view that named Richmond through the Capital Region Land Conservancy.

Capital Trees’ strategic plan emphasized our commitment to not only build more transformative public landscapes, but also manage those landscapes so that they remain places where people, plants, and wildlife thrive.  As part of this commitment to management, we are adopting both financially and economically sustainable practices.  To educate both individuals and community groups about best practices, we are documenting our work through a newly launched blog on our sustainable management.  You are invited to subscribe to the blog HERE or follow along through our website HERE.

As part of our strategic focus on education, join us for a presentation by Heidi James, Bee City Innovator and Chair of Lynchburg Bee City Working Committee on Friday, October 14, 12 pm, at the Round House at Byrd Park. Capital Trees along with Richmond clubs of the Garden Club of Virginia and the City of Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities are part of a Bee City Working Committee committed to establishing Richmond as a Bee City.  Practices include: increasing native plants, providing nest sites, and reducing the use of pesticides.  These practices complement the work Capital Trees is doing in the sustainable management of our projects.  You can learn more about our practices in our blog.

Project development, sustainable management practices, robust and meaningful community programs, and thoughtful educational events are only possible with the ongoing support of our community.  Now through October 23, you can grow your gift by 10% by giving through Birdies for Charity.  Capital Trees is participating in #BirdiesforCharity presented by TowneBank. Make your gift HERE  before October 23.  Each gift made through the platform in Capital Trees’ name will be increased by 10% by Birdies for Charity.Gifts can be made via credit or debit card, check, stock, donor advised fund, electronic funds transfer (EFT), or IRA. This program is operated by PGA TOUR Charities, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (EIN: 59-2774423). If you want to discuss your donation options, please contact, Shelly Barrick Parsons, [email protected]. Please consider making a gift today!