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.  Through Capital Trees’ years of work as a collaborator on public greenspace improvements and tree canopy efforts, we helped create connections to the Department of Forestry, county departments and staff, and the Henrico County Extension to help the pilot program gain momentum.

Since 2023, the pilot project has included the following programs:  

• Training on tree identification, invasive species identification, and how to do a tree canopy assessment/tree inventory for staff, interns, and community volunteers.  
• Site specific canopy assessments or inventories with staff, interns, and community volunteers. 
• Tree planting recommendations and community tree planting events.  In 2023-2024, the sites included Deep Run, Dorey, and Cheswick Parks, and Fairfield Middle and Ridgefield Middle School.

Tree Identification, Canopy and Inventory Training

In 2023, Capital Trees developed and led a training program to identify and catalog native trees and invasive species on Henrico school and park sites.  Collaborating with DOF and Henrico GIS staff, a mapping system was also developed for tree canopy assessment and tree inventory data.  

Guest teachers from the Department of Forestry and Henrico County Extension led the training sessions for Henrico staff, community volunteers, and Henrico County high school and college interns.

The training included:

• Identifying native trees using the Common Native Trees of Virginia’s dichotomous tree identification key (4, page 14)
• Measuring the diameter of trees, assessing their condition, logging an estimated height, and noting the presence of invasives.
• How to do a canopy assessment and tree inventory using the GIS system created by Henrico staff.  

In this pilot program, tree canopy assessments are done at forested locations (primarily parks) and tree inventories are conducted at locations with sparse canopy coverage such as schools and parking lots.  

In a tree canopy assessment, preset waypoints are entered into the maps and volunteers walk along those waypoints and stop at each one to log the following information:  

• Top three major native species present
• Health of the trees
• Presence and type of invasives/non native ornamental trees
• Average height of trees
• A picture of the area. 

This shows the waypoints used by volunteers to do a canopy assessment at Dorey Park. Volunteers use an ipad and walk along the paths and stop at each waypoint to enter canopy data.

This data is helpful for a number of reasons – it helps in selecting future native plantings and it can help in reforestation efforts in the event of catastrophic canopy loss.  In addition, the data can help identify areas in need of invasive species management.  

Planting Plans

Guided by the inventory and assessment data, site conditions, and recommendations by parks staff and DOF, Capital Trees then designs a planting plan to increase tree canopy once canopy assessments and inventories are completed.  

Community Tree Planting Events

Following assessment and plan establishment, Capital Trees partners with Henrico County to sponsor community tree planting events.  In 2023, 50 trees were planted between Deep Run and Dorey Parks along with additional trees at school sites (3).  These planting days not only add to the tree canopy over time, but they also teach the community about the best practices for planting trees and the ongoing maintenance necessary for newly planted trees to thrive.  

This project is a true collaboration between Capital Trees and Henrico County staff, along with the Va Department of Forestry.  

Looking into the 2024- 2025 fiscal year, Capital Trees will continue its partnership with Henrico County at the following sites:

• Parks:  East End Rec Center, Armour House, Three Lakes Park, and Robinson Park
• Schools:  Longdale Elementary and Brookland Elementary Schools

Canopy assessments and inventories have already been completed at park sites.  Two community tree planting dates have been set for November 15 and 16, 2024 at Armour House and East End Rec Center.  Virginia Randolph Students will be completing inventories at the listed schools in October with planting to follow in November.  Follow us on social media and keep an eye on CFEngage for the sign ups to get involved and volunteer.  Stay tuned for additional planting events in the spring.

We are grateful for the many partners in Henrico County who make this project a true collaboration to build a greener and more vibrant community for all.  

References: 

1. Henrico, HCPS, Capital Trees partner to enhance county tree canopies:  https://henrico.gov/news/2023/05/henrico-hcps-capital-trees-partner-to-enhance-county-tree-canopies/#:~:text=The%20reforestation%20program%20is%20one,resources%20and%20protect%20the%20environment.
2. Henrico Kicks Off New Partnership with Capital Trees:  https://www.vpm.org/news/2023-05-11/henrico-trees-reforestation-green-space
3. Henrico’s Reforestation Program Underway:  https://henrico.gov/news/stewartsblog/henricos-reforestation-program-is-underway/ 
4. Common Native Trees of Virginia, https://dof.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/Common-Native-Trees-ID-spreads_pub.pdf, page 14 starts the guide
5. Capital Tress on CFEngage:  https://www.cfengage.org/organization/001A000001PJ0UJIA1 

Partner websites:

• Henrico County Extension:  https://henrico.gov/extension/
• Henrico County GIS:  https://henrico.gov/it/gis/
• Virginia Department of Forestry:  https://dof.virginia.gov/ 
• Henrico Environmental Action Resource Team:  https://henrico.gov/heart/
• Henrico County Recreation and Parks:  https://henrico.gov/rec/ 

September — Urban Green Space Maintenance

We’ve hosted a few different private workdays in the gardens this month, and they’ve all made a huge dent in the maintenance that needs to be done before fall and winter are in full swing. The group from Kimley-Horne tackled a major weeding job at the Low Line Green, the Boston Scientific team worked to control the weeds along the Low Line Gardens, and the crew from GrayCo spent time dividing and transplanting perennials along the Low Line. 

Our regular maintenance volunteers have also been hard at work, systematically cleaning up beds in preparation for a light layer of mulch which will help suppress weed seed germination in the coming months.

September — Featured Trees Seasonal Update

This year we’ll be documenting the same two trees as they progress out of dormancy, bud out in the spring, are full of foliage in the summer, and lose their leaves in the fall. Follow along for monthly updates on the River Birch and Eastern White Redbud along the Low Line Gardens in Richmond, Virginia.

September — Spotted at: James S. Christian, Jr., Park 

The Church Hill Central Civic Association reached out to Capital Trees for help applying for a grant and creating a plan to renew the small green space at the intersection of Chimborazo Blvd, Oakwood Ave, and P St. So far, City of Richmond Public Works and City of Richmond Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities have removed an old tree stump, overgrown plants and weeds, and planters from the space. They’ve also made repairs to the sidewalk, added topsoil, and prepared the space for fall planting. If you’ve driven by, you may have “spotted” that this space is already looking much improved. Get all the details on this project, and Capital Trees’ involvement, in our recent blog post, linked here.