As part of the Tree City USA designation, Roanoke County celebrated Arbor Day with a ceremonial tree planting at Glen Cove Elementary School on Friday, April 19. This event featured educational lectures and a visit from Smokey the Bear. Remarks were also made by Joseph B. “Butch” Church from Roanoke County’s Board of Supervisors, David Wymer from the Roanoke County School Board, and Dr. Lorraine Lange, Superintendent of Roanoke County Public Schools.
Virginia Department of Forestry spokesman Dennis McCarthy captivated the students with lessons on the importance of environmental stewardship. “These trees that we plant on the school grounds here in Roanoke County will provide you guys shade while you’re out on the campus playing on a hot summer day,” said McCarthy. “We need to be proud about our efforts to plant trees and make sure we’re constantly thinking about preserving and conserving our trees and forests in Virginia.”
The tree planting event at Glen Cove Elementary was one of four requirements for the Tree City USA designation, including; a tree-care ordinance, a tree board or department, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
Roanoke County has been assisted by The Valley Beautiful Foundation, Inc., and the Virginia Department of Forestry for the past 15 years. Through private donations and fund-raising the groups have contributed approximately $22,500 towards planting trees in Roanoke County. This is the final year of involvement for The Valley Beautiful Foundation, which is dissolving after 32 years of making our community a greener and more beautiful place to live.
More information on the Tree City USA program is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.