Tree Steward Program

Roanoke Tree Stewards
Plant a Tree in Fishburn Park

In 2009, Roanoke started a Tree Steward Program designed to train volunteers to care for trees and teach others about the urban forest. Volunteer Tree Stewards prune trees, plant new trees in parks and public areas, conduct tree inventories, and educate the citizens.

The Tree Steward course begins with 30 hours of combined classroom sessions in the evenings and hands-on training on two Saturdays. An additional 30 hours of volunteer work in the first year is required to complete the class. Twenty hours of volunteer work is required in subsequent years.

The class gives practical information on trees, how they grow, soil and root systems, planting and maintenance, tree selection and identification, insect and disease problems, and pruning.

The next session of Tree Steward training starts on January 7, 2013. Roanoke is able to offer the class at no cost due to a grant from the Urban and Community Forestry Program of the USDA Forest Service and the Virginia Department of Forestry.

To ask questions, contact Helen Smythers, Urban Forestry Planner, by email or phone at 540-853-5225.

Mission

The Roanoke Tree Stewards, sponsored by the City of Roanoke, is an organization of trained volunteers concerned with promoting and protecting the health and well-being of the urban forest of Roanoke.

The mission is to:

plant, care for and maintain public trees in the city and the surrounding area
educate the public to the benefits and needs of the trees in our community
provide assistance to the Roanoke City urban forestry staff

PLAY Vision: Tree Stewards Winter 11-12: Produced by RVTV-3