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November 06, 2024

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Largest Community Tree-Planting Event in America Set for March 20

In what organizers believe is the largest community tree planting event in America, thousands of volunteers have registered to plant more than 50,000 native trees including every county in the state during Tennessee Tree Day, taking place March 20, 2021. The event includes 112 community tree pickup sites and more than 4,000 individual tree-planting locations.

The event is organized every year by Tennessee Environmental Council, a non-profit organization based in Nashville, with Tennessee's Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry playing a vital role in this event.

“In a rough pandemic year, it is heartwarming to see thousands of volunteer participants planting trees and planting hope for our future,” says Cynthia Hernandez, Tree Program Manager at Tennessee Environmental Council.

Rutherford County Tree Pick-Up:

Rutherford County Master Gardeners
Pick Up Site Address:
315 John Rice Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
Pick Up Friday, March 19: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Pick Up Saturday, March 20: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Click this link to reserve your trees.

Islamic Center of Murfreesboro
Pick Up Site Address:
2605 Veals Road, Murfreesboro, TN 37127
Pick Up Friday, March 19: N/A
Pick Up Saturday, March 20: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Click this link to reserve your trees.

The annual statewide event was recently endorsed by the Tennessee State House of Representatives, which voted unanimously in favor of a joint “Tennessee Tree Day Resolution” (HJR0147). The goals of this volunteer effort include maintaining a healthy tree canopy in communities across Tennessee, advancing natural climate solutions, and increasing biological diversity. Native tree species being planted include bald cypress, eastern redbud, northern red oak, white oak, pecan, shortleaf pine, red mulberry, silky dogwood, tulip-poplar, sweetgum, wild plum, and buttonbush.

“There’s no better way to improve our environment,” says Jeffrey Barrie, CEO of Tennessee Environmental Council. “Every year, participants show up by the thousands to do something positive for our world, and that’s why we keep doing it year after year,” says Barrie.

Tennessee Environmental Council’s Tree Program was established in 2007 with a goal of planting one million native trees across the state by 2025 to increase the biological diversity of the state and region, and to help replace trees lost to development and other causes. Since then, volunteers have planted over 679,100 trees through this program, fulfilling the mission of engaging individuals and communities to improve our environment and public health.

The event is sponsored by numerous funders and agencies, including National Wildlife Federation, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Memorial Foundation, TVA, Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, Penske, Sharing Change, Root Nashville, more than a dozen city and county municipalities, and other funders and sponsors.

About the Author

Michael Aldrich

Michael Aldrich is Nashville Parent's Managing Editor and a Middle Tennessee arts writer. He and his wife, Alison, are the proud parents of 4-year-old Ezra and baby Norah.