Leesburg Tree Commission celebrates Arbor Day with tree planting

In celebration of Arbor Day, the Town of Leesburg’s Tree Commission, along with Mayor Kelly Burk, joined students at The North Star School in planting a native Eastern Redbud near the front entrance of the Leesburg campus.   

During the process, Commissioners Phil Marshall and Earl Hower, along with the Town’s Urban Forester Noble Atkins, explained how to properly plant a tree. Students assisted in digging the hole before placing the tree and protecting it with dirt, topsoil, compost, and mulch.

“In our Town, trees stand as indispensable guardians of our well-being and contentment. Their presence not only beautifies our surroundings but also serves as a bulwark against rising crime rates, anxiety, and depression,” Noble said. “In communities that prioritize tree investment and safeguard their verdant canopy, a tapestry of benefits unfolds. Enhanced living standards, heightened tourism appeal, reduced stress levels, increased property values, and an overarching sense of pride in our collective identity are just a few of the dividends reaped.

“As we champion the cause of trees, let us recognize their profound impact on our Town’s vitality and pledge to nurture and preserve them for generations to come.”

Each student received a free tree seedling to take home on behalf of the Tree Commission, which was established in 1995. The commission has been assisting in Arbor Day tree plantings since 2000. Leesburg has been recognized as Tree City USA since 1989, for its commitment to effective urban forest management.