In a new holiday tradition, the City of Lexington in partnership with Boxerwood will be distributing free native trees to City residents on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Richardson Park, 10 am – 2 pm. Facilitated by the Healthy Green Neighborhoods Initiative, the give-away supports an existing City plan to increase the urban tree canopy. “Trees bring so many benefits,” explained Ginny Johnson, Boxerwood Sustainability Coordinator who is managing the give-away in conjunction with the Lexington Tree Board and the City’s Public Works department.  Properly placed and tended, urban trees help keep towns clean, cool, and shady. They add value to private property, promote emotional well-being, provide habitat for songbirds, sequester carbon and more. “Trees help communities thrive,” said Ginny “and we’re delighted to support the City in its journey to a greener Lexington.”

 

According to Johnson, the trees for the give-away come from an existing and very popular Boxerwood school program, “Growing Native,” in which hundreds of local 4th graders each spring place bare root seedlings into pots for one to two years of grow-out in local Growing Native nurseries.  “In essence, every young tree at this give-away was first planted by love,” said Ginny, noting most pots containing the seedlings come with hand-written nicknames. Boxerwood has been advancing tree planting initiatives across Rockbridge for several years using stock from the Growing Native nurseries, but this is the first year fifty trees are heading to Lexington households via The Great Tree Give-Away.Available  species for 2024 include dogwood, buttonbush, crabapple, river birch, and pin oak.

 

The Great Tree Give-Away is open to any citizen property-owner ready to plant a tree within Lexington City limits, said Ginny. “This is our first year,” she said, “so it’s hard to gauge demand, but we’re hoping for a great turn-out.” Trees will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and citizens also have the option of reserving up to three trees online at the button below. As an additional resource, volunteers with digging tools will be on hand to help property owners plant their trees; this free service is offered only during the 10 am – 2 pm pick-up window.