Buchanan Arbor Day Celebration

Join Buchanan as we “plant the seeds of tomorrow today” during the Town’s annual Arbor Day Celebration held on the Town Park on Friday, April 3rd at 11:00am.

Help us celebrate Buchanan’s inclusion in the Tree City USA Program with a commemorative tree planting. More than twenty trees will be planted this spring on the Town Park as the result of the fund raising activities for Buchanan Arbor Day. Trees and supplies are being purchased through donations by local citizens and businesses as well as a grant by the Virginia Department of Forestry and a grant from Clean Valley Council.

The Town applied for $1,500.00 from the Virginia Department of Forestry “Virginia Trees for Clean Water” Grant Program. This program is supported through funds from the USFS Chesapeake Watershed Forestry Program and Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. VDOF developed the Virginia Trees for Clean Water program which is designed to improve water quality across the Commonwealth through on-the-ground efforts to plant trees where they are needed most. This is the second year the Town has applied to VDOF for such funding so that they can plant trees on the Town Park which is adjacent to the James River. Part of the Town’s Arbor Day tree planting goals includes increasing tree diversity on the park, to increase canopy cover and to reduce runoff into the James River.

The Town has also been awarded $600.00 from Clean Valley Council of Roanoke. The Clean Valley Council provides educational resources and programming about litter prevention and reuse, recycling, reduction of the waste stream and storm water issues for school systems, the public and local municipalities. This is the first year the Town has applied for funding from Clean Valley Council.

Buchanan’s Arbor Day Celebration will start with s short program led by Harry Gleason, Revitalization and Events Coordinator. During the Program, Virginia House of Delegates 19th District Representative Terry Austin will speak as well as Virginia Department of Forestry representatives Joe Boswell. The morning’s program will culminate with the recertification of the Town of Buchanan as a “Tree City USA Community” and, the unveiling of the Buchanan Arbor Day Donor’s Plaque. The Plaque will recognize more than $1,600.00 in donations by local citizens, businesses and civic organizations towards this year’s Arbor Day efforts.

Following the unveiling, there will be a ceremonial planting on the Town Park. Volunteers are invited to help plant trees during the morning’s activities, or, later in the week. As part of the activities, light refreshments are being provided by members of the Buchanan Special Events Committee and the Buchanan Town Improvement Society. For additional information, contact the Buchanan Downtown Revitalization Program at 540-254-1212 x4 or hgleason@buchanan-va.gov