February 2022: A Message from Our Director

Dear Wolf River Conservancy friend,

After a very successful tree planting event near Bateman Bridge in Fayette County on Sat., Feb. 19^th, we are now preparing for Tree Planting Part 2 at Urban Earth Nursery on Sat., Mar. 5^th, where volunteers will be potting up 3,000 native tree seedlings.

The native tree seedlings will include eight oak species, buttonbush, red mulberry, and Virginia pine. Once potted, the seedlings will be cared for at the nursery until they are large enough for planting in a permanent location. These trees will be used to enhance blighted properties in Memphis, as well as in ecological restoration projects along the Wolf River.  The Conservancy is partnering with Urban Earth Nursery, The Works CDC, the Compost Fairy, the Memphis Tree Board, and the West Tennessee Chapter of the Urban Forestry to organize and execute the event. Thank you to sponsors Brother International and International Paper!

Volunteers of all ages are needed to pot the tree seedlings.  Join us for a morning of getting a little dirty while having lots of fun — helping make a lasting local impact! You can register here.

Sign up today to volunteer and/or consider sponsoring a tree, and join the Conservancy in restoring the natural beauty around us and helping future generations to enjoy the many benefits of trees.

Here are some thoughts on the value of trees from the National Arbor Day Foundation:

“Trees make good neighbors. We all know the good stuff that trees do in our lives every day. They clean the air. They provide homes for animals.  They save energy by shading our dwellings, and they provide food for us. But what is it about trees that make these neighborhoods special?

Specifically, trees increase property values. Studies have shown that homes with large trees consistently sell for higher amounts than homes without trees. Trees help reduce crime. There are significant dips in property crimes in neighborhoods that have trees. Trees buffer noise. Who doesn’t want a quieter neighborhood?

They filter our drinking water. Before hitting the gutter and the drain, water falls on trees to help slow down runoff and waste. In hotter cities, well-shaded streets have to be paved less often, resulting in less air pollution from equipment and financial savings for municipalities. Many cost-benefits analyses across the country show that the investment that communities make in trees pay off through the quantified benefits that they provide. All of these tree paybacks make our neighborhoods more livable and desirable.”

As we complete these tree plantings for the 17^th year in a row, we are reminded that the planting of trees, like our continuing land conservation work, serves future generations

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”      
- Nelson Henderson.

Thank you for your support!