On Arbor Day, Friday, April 26, Bartlett Tree Experts will give away 21,000 tree seedlings in communities across the U.S. The trees are distributed as part of the Bartlett Legacy Tree Program, which has distributed over 310,000 seedlings since its inception five years ago.
The Legacy Tree Program supports tree planting and stewardship in local communities through the annual distribution of seedlings in schools, at events and to reforestation efforts. In 2019, a total of 75,000 trees will be distributed by Bartlett Tree Experts employees, the company reported. Nearly one-third of those seedlings will be handed out for this year’s Arbor Day.
“We encourage every one of our Arborist Representatives to distribute a minimum of 100 seedlings each year,” said Patrick Franklin, who manages Bartlett’s program. “Our arborists decide how their trees will be distributed. They love participating because they get to network and meet new people while also promoting the importance of tree planting. It really has been an amazing way to bring trees and people together.”
With all of Bartlett’s 120-plus offices participating in the program since the beginning, seedlings have been given away in more than 30 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces and numerous locations in greater London, as well as Dublin, Ireland.
“To name a few, we’ve helped plant white oaks to restore the West Linn Savanna in Oregon and distributed thousands at the Philadelphia Flower Show with visitors returning to see us year after year,” Franklin added. “At one event, 300 seedlings were gone in only 45 minutes. No matter where we are, people love receiving trees and seeing we have a program in place to help the urban tree canopy.”
The tree seedlings include a variety of native species with the top three being dogwood, redbud and swamp white oak. Species selection varies by geographic region, with a focus on the local diversity of native tree populations.
Bartlett Tree Experts ranked No. 4 on our LM150 list in 2018.
