Opportunity Details
Community Tree Planting - Byrd Park
Plant Trees for a Healthier Future!
Tree canopy coverage is an important asset to urban areas, creating healthier, safer, and more connected communities. From cleaning our air and filtering our water, to slowing down storm surge and flooding in our cities, trees also provide shade that can cool neighborhoods by up to 10 degrees, helping to prevent heat-related deaths and illessess in urban areas that suffer from heat island effect. Green spaces and park settings are also linked to better health outcomes, in both reducing stress-related mental health issues, and by improving overall health development in children, and encouraging physical activity.
Join the City of Richmond's Parks & Rec in a community tree planting! We will be planting trees in the Carillon/Byrd Park neighborhood. Not only will this help beautify the area and create habitat for birds and other local wildlife, but once reaching maturaty, these trees will create shade and cool down temperatures in an area frequented by pedestrians and park visitors.
Volunteer Duties & Responsibilities:
Volutneers will be assisting staff from Parks & Rec, in the planting of new trees in a grassy turffed lawn, accessible from street level. Duties will include digging holes, moving and amending soil, placing and planting 7 trees, applying mulch, and watering. We will be planting 15-gallon/1.5" caliper sized trees, which are larger in size, but will create an imediate impact to the area. Volunteers may want to bring along sunscreen or a head covering, as well as a refillable water bottle (and snack if needed).
Qualifications, Skills, & Requirements:
Tools and gloves will be provided, but feel free to bring along your own gloves if preferred. Be sure to wear sturdy closed toed shoes/boots, long pants and long sleeves. No prior experience or special skills necessary, though some lifting (max. 60lbs), bending, overhead reaching, grasping, pushing/pulling and stooping will be required. All activities will be located outdoors, in a grassy lawn next to a sidewalk and street. Please be aware of the weather forecast, and dress accordingly (this event is rain or shine, however advance communication will be sent if we need to cancel). Parks staff will be leading a demonstartion on how to properly plant trees at the beginning of the event, so please arrive on time!
Time Commitment:
This event will be on Saturday, April 15th from 10am - 12pm, please arrive on time and plan on staying for the full 2-hours. Sign-ups close 24hrs before the opportunity! This allows for proper planning and communication.
Other Information:
- Upon signup, you will recieve TWO emails; one from HandsOn and one from the Opportunity Coordinator at "Qui.Nguyen@rva.gov". Specific meeting location and additional instructions will be sent in the SECOND email - be sure to check your SPAM folder if you have not recived it. All volunteers MUST REPLY to that email to confirm participation, to allow for proper planning for tools and equipment.
- Volunteer hours will be verified within 72hrs after the end of the event, though the HandsOn Greater Richmond website. Please bring your paperwork with you if a seperate form needs to be signed.
- If arriving by bicycle, there are utility poles in the area (so bring a cable lock)
- If arriving by GRTC Bus, Route 5 , Route 20, and Route 78 have nearby stops. Please visit http://ridegrtc.com/planning-your-trip/trip-planner for more details.
- If arriving by vehicle, please give yourself some extra time on arriving to be able to find on-street parking. Car pooling is encouraged!
Have a large group or want to learn more details about this event? Feel free to reach out to Qui.Nguyen@rva.gov!
Age Minimum (with Adult): 13+, Minimum Age:18+, Court Ordered Volunteer - Allowed
Log in or Register
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Sign up with a team
This link allows you to participate in this opportunity with a team. A team can be a family team, corporate team, or any kind of organized group. When you click on the link you will have the option to:
- Choose an existing team you're already a member or captain of, or
- Create a new team to sign up.
Signup Questions
Please respond to the following questions in order to signup for this opportunity: