Opportunity Details
Swansboro West Tree Planting Project
Brief Organizational Description:
The Swansboro West Civic Association is a neighborhood group that supports the area between Hull Street and Forest Hill Avenue from roughly Richmond High School for the Art to Broad Rock Road and to Clopton Street. The Association has about 150 members and meets quarterly at the Swansboro Elementary School. They are partnered on this project with the Richmond Tree Stewards. The Richmond Tree Stewards work to promote and improve the health of city trees to ensure the city’s forest will survive and thrive. This is accomplished by increasing public awareness through community education, planning and planting for the future, and providing maintenance and care for young trees on streets and in parks. Tree Stewards work closely with Urban Forestry and with other organizations interested in the health of our community forest.
Volunteer Position Description and Purpose:
The Richmond Tree Stewards and the Swansboro West Civic Association partnered to plant trees in the Swansboro West Neighborhood. We received a $63,000 grant from the Richmond Office of Sustainability to buy the trees and other needed supplies. This project is made possible from grant funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Act and City of Richmond Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant, and through support of the City of Richmond Office of Sustainability, RVA Urban Forestry Division, and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. The monthly plantings started in January 2024, but was suspended in April due to the heat of summer. Plantings resumed in October 2024 and will continue until April 2025. Each month between 10-20 trees are planted. The original project was to plant a total of 100 trees, but thanks to donations and some discounts, we are well underbudget and will likely end up planting about 150 new street trees in our neighborhood.
Volunteer Duties & Responsibilities:
Volunteers are needed to dig the holes for the trees (though we plan to have them predrilled by Richmond Parks and Rec. which makes it much easier), prepare the trees' root ball and plant the tree into the ground. Volunteers do not need any experience because there will be several Richmond Tree Stewards on site to guide the work. So, if you ever wanted to learn how to plant a tree successfully, this is your chance to learn as well as do.
Qualifications, Skills, & Requirements:
No special skills are needed other than being able to perform the phyiscal labor associated with planting a tree.
Time Commitment:
The planting is scheduled for three hours from 10:00am to 1:00pm, but all plantings so far have been completed within two hours. We will also take whatever help we can get even if it is only an hour.
Other Information (if applicable):
- Dress in for the weather and work clothes since you may get dirty.
- Wear closed-toed shoes.
- All tools will be provided as well as gloves and safety vests.
Environment
Age Minimum (with Adult): 10+, Minimum Age:18+, Court Ordered Volunteer - Allowed
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