Town of Chapel Hill celebrates Arbor Day

On Nov. 15, the Town of Chapel Hill celebrated Arbor Day, an occasion recognizing trees, their benefits and the importance of planting and preserving them. 

Arbor Day is traditionally observed nationwide in spring, but in 2000, the Chapel Hill Town Council declared the first Friday after Nov. 15 as the Town’s official Arbor Day. The council made the decision to help provide newly planted trees with an extra growing season before summer’s heat. 

Each year, the Town celebrates Arbor Day by planting trees at a Town-owned facility including parks or greenways. This year, the event was commemorated at Estes Hill Elementary School with a talk by Mayor Jess Anderson. 

Kevin Robinson, Town senior manager of planning and park operations, said they chose Estes Hill Elementary School because of the Estes Drive Connectivity Project, which intends to provide an improved experience for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. Event participants got to plant four trees — two redbuds and two dogwoods — on the campus to enhance the school grounds, he said.

“We wanted to highlight that work that's been completed, and also highlight that there will be a planting plan that is to follow,” Robinson said. 

Volunteers, library staff and the Friends of Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation & Greenways helped plant additional trees around Chapel Hill, including 20 trees at various parks, cemeteries and right-of-way areas, he said. 

Neal Bench, a board member of the Friends of Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation & Greenways Chapel Hill, said while the Parks and Recreation Department organized the Arbor Day events, the Friends group financially supported tree-plantings throughout town and collaborated on various green initiatives.

"There’s no question we hear from many, many people who move into the area that the tree canopy and the look of the town are a big reason they move here” he said.

Second-grade students participated in the celebration by listening to presentations tying Arbor Day to their curriculum on life cycles and community services said Christine Cohn, a second-grade teacher at Estes Hills Elementary.

Cohn said the students performed an Appalachian folktale, a skit based on a Cherokee folktale explaining why trees lose their leaves, a poem about trees and presented posters illustrating the life cycle of plants.

She said the project helped the children see their connection to the larger Chapel Hill community as well as understand the importance of caring for nature and appreciating that the town's trees are the result of intentional planning.

“We just really appreciated being included as part of the ceremony with the mayor and the Parks and [Recreation] Department,” Cohn said.

During the week leading up to Arbor Day, the Town also celebrated with activities focused on tree conservation, education and community engagement. 

The events included an educational program on the benefits of fallen leaves, a tree-planting and invasive species removal workday and walks in local parks.

“Having worked in this town now for 23 plus years, it's made a difference in the feel and the look of the town," Robinson said. "[The tree canopy] is something we really pride ourselves on.”

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