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STATESBORO, Ga. — Statesboro is set to host its annual Arbor Day festivities this Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at Marvin Avenue Park.
For over three decades, the city’s Tree Board has been organizing this event to celebrate the importance of trees in the community.
“This marks our 33rd year as a Tree City USA,” stated Timeka Shannon, the coordinator for Keep Statesboro-Bulloch Beautiful. “Being recognized as a tree city for 33 years makes this our 33rd celebration.”
The event will feature a variety of activities, including a special tribute to a dedicated member of the tree board.
“We are planning a memorial tree planting in honor of the late Henry Clay, a longtime advocate for our community,” Shannon added.
In a news release, his wife, Sandra Clay, provided a quote about her late husband.
“Henry had such a passion for the City of Statesboro,” she said. “He put forth a tireless effort toward the beauty of the city through the planting, pruning, and care of trees.”
She added that attendees can bring donations to win prizes.
“We’ll also have a tree raffle with large, containerized trees,” Shannon said. “We’re asking the community to bring nonperishable food items or pet food. Each item that is donated will be an entry into the raffle.”
She added, “We’ll have tree seedlings from the Georgia Forestry Commission, native plant cells, cookie sales and a bunch of different hands-on activities to learn more about trees.”
Shannon detailed the history and purpose behind the event.
“Arbor Day is a celebration of planting trees in local communities, and the best time of year to plant trees in Georgia is during the dormancy, which is November to February.”
Shannon spoke with about why residents should come out and support the initiative.
“Trees provide a number of ecological benefits for people and our health, from cleaner air to managing stormwater runoff, to providing habitat for our wildlife,” she said. “Trees need people and people need trees, so it’s important that we educate, promotes and preserve the tree canopy.
She also listed what the best practices residents can do to care for and maintain trees in their communities.
“Learning about the importance of tree care and how to manage trees as well as the best times and optimal time to plant trees in the community,” she said. “From November to February is the best time to plant trees because it allows the roots to really get established, while the tree above is not growing and producing new leaves. The roots can really start to grow and get established before springtime, which is the growing season for everything.”