October 2023 Quarterly Report

Quarterly Update

Throughout the summer, Capital Trees has continued its work of building a greener and more livable Richmond in our three program areas: BUILD, MANAGE, & EDUCATE. Our summer saw the development of additional projects including advising a neighborhood association and an upcoming tree planting event. The regular rain and warm temps kept us busy managing our existing projects. During the summer, Capital Trees initiated its collaboration with Henrico County Parks and Schools including classes on tree identification and inventory and weekly tree inventories at Deep Run and Cheswick Parks. We collaborated on an additional training early this fall and started inventory with volunteers at Dorey Park. Your investment, whether it’s a financial gift or the gift of volunteer hours, makes it possible to continue this important work in Richmond. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,
Shelly Barrick Parsons
Executive Director

BUILD

Hotchkiss Update

Capital Trees continues to collaborate with our partners and community to renovate greenspace at Hotchkiss Field and Community Center on Richmond’s Northside. Project plans have received initial comments and feedback related to land disturbance and stormwater management. The plans will be resubmitted this fall for final approval. We continue to meet with funders, community stakeholders, and organizations to review the project and partnerships. Our goal is to break ground in 2024. To keep us on track, we need to raise 80% (an additional $150,000) of construction funding by the end of December. A gift to Capital Trees will help us both move forward with Hotchkiss and continue our work throughout Richmond.

MANAGE

A Tally Of Volunteer Hours

The summer heat did not stop our ongoing sustainable management of the Low Line. Thanks to our maintenance volunteers who braved the summer heat to volunteer each week contributing over 223 hours of service, and private and community workday volunteers for contributing over 46 hours of garden care. Thank you for caring for these transformational spaces.

Thanks to…

Steward School and Thought Logic for volunteering as part of private workdays this quarter.

Bartlett Tree Experts for their work eradicating Tree of Heaven along the canal bank

Sustainable management impacts

This summer saw the following positive impacts from our sustainable management practices:

Progress on controlling the seed bank; learn about seed bank reduction here
Native plants thriving along the canal bank following cut back of invasives
Transplants from the Low Line Gardens to the Low Line Green are thriving

EDUCATE

Community Speaking Events

Educating the community on the importance of greenspaces is a program pillar of Capital Trees. Lisa Trapp, Program and Outreach Manager, was featured on VPM’s Virginia Home Grown on 9/26. She shared about the unique native plants found along the Low Line. Here is a link to the episode from Facebook; Lisa begins at 40:30. Shelly Barrick Parsons, Executive Director, spoke at the Henrico County Libraries in-person and online on Tuesday, October 10 on Capital Trees reforestation efforts with the county and native tree planting recommendations.

Sustainability Blog

As we continue to establish sustainable management practices, we are documenting our work and the research that inspires our work in our blog. Here are blog highlights from the last quarter:

Bloom and Fruit Calendar

In the coming weeks be on the lookout for Magnolia virginiana (Sweetbay magnolia), Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry), Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Aromatic aster) and Solidago rugosa (Goldenrod). See if you can match them to their pictures scattered throughout the update!

SUPPORT

Volunteer

Want to help make Richmond greener and more livable?

We invite you to volunteer with us!

Learn more about volunteering.

Donate

Your support to Capital Trees helps us

launch new projects
sustain current projects, or
raise awareness in the community about the value of public landscapes

Please consider making a donation to Capital Trees.

We are participating in Birdies for Charity presented by TowneBank to maximize charitable giving. Make your gift in Capital Trees’ name to Birdies for Charity now through October 22 and Birdies for Charity will contribute a 10% match. Check out the Birdies donation guid e for instructions for giving by check, online, donor advised funds, stocks, EFT, and checks.

Support Our Work

Our mailing address is:
200 South Third Street, Suite 101,Richmond, VA 23219

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Building public landscapes.
Enriching the community.

News

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