Tree Planting

Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful is an active part of the tree planting community. Trees add beauty and value to our community and KACCB is committed to planting, caring for, and providing education about trees.

  • Bring One for the Chipper Every year the Board of KACCB funds seedlings to be distributed during the Bring One For the Chipper Treecycling event.
  • Community Toolshed KACCB distributes trees to community beautification projects through their community Toolshed Program. This includes trees that are saved and fostered from the Chipper event and tree donations from local businesses.
  • Tree Education KACCB offers educational programs about trees to local schools and organizations. School programs through KACCB are eligible for Green School Credit. 
  • Georgia Arbor Day is a day set aside for schools, civic clubs, individuals, and organizations to reflect on the importance of trees on the Third Friday of every February.  If your class or organization would like to participate in a planting or a tree program, KACCB is happy to schedule a visit or provide materials for your project.  Ideas for this day include planting trees, mulching and caring for existing trees, or a simple tree appreciation activity. Programs and materials are available on a first come, first served basis. 
  • Community Tree Council KACCB serves on the board of this community organization and is active partner in CTC programs and events, including the annual Community Tree Fair.  The Community Tree Council is an excellent resource for information on and programs about Trees!

Rocksprings Arbor Day Project 2018

In the fall of 2017 Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful and the ACC Community Tree Council (CTC) received a Keep America Beautiful/UPS grant to fund the planting of trees in the Athens Housing Authority (AHA) Rocksprings neighborhood. In collaboration with the ACC Landscape Management Division, AHA staff, and the UGA College of Environmental Design, plans were created to plant shade and fruit trees at the site to improve the usability of the community space and offer a sustainable food source for low-income residents. The collaborative project is also an opportunity to teach residents and volunteers about proper tree installation, maintenance, and the economics and environmental value of tree canopy

ACC Community Tree Council and KACCB Receive A $5,000 GRANT

Keep America Beautiful and UPS have awarded a $5,000 grant to plant twenty large shade trees along Milledge Avenue, one of Athens’ most picturesque streets. Sharing the grant and guiding the work will be a partnership of the Athens-Clarke County Community Tree Council (CTC) and Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful (KACCB). 

“This grant will help our two organizations lead the way in revitalizing Milledge Avenue’s tree canopy and ensure that it remains one of the most beautiful streets of Georgia,” said Athens CTC president Chase Cook.  “We are excited to have the opportunity to maintain both the aesthetic and environmental integrity of a landmark street in Athens,” continued Stacee Farrell, Executive Director of KACCB. 

Many of the large trees that shade Milledge Avenue from Lumpkin St. at Five Points to Broad St. were planted originally as a double allé of arching trees in the early 20th century.  Many of those trees have succumbed to drought and other problems over the years, and very few trees have been planted to replace them. KACCB and CTC members will work to recruit property owners along the historic Milledge Avenue corridor that would have the greatest impact on that area’s tree canopy. The project will plant 20 two-inch caliper trees (or greater) and will recruit volunteers from  the Athens community as well as the local UPS distribution center.
Local arborist company New Urban Forestry will provide the first year’s health inspections and structural pruning as an in-kind contribution.

School Yard Orchards

Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful has provided funds for and assisted with the installation of fruiting trees, shrubs, and vines at Cedar Shoals High School, Clarke Central High School, Hilsman Middle School, Coile Middle School, Clarke Middle School, Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School, Cleveland Road Elementary, Whit Davis Elementary, and community gardens throughout Athens.  This project is funded through a series of three Edible Neighborwood grants totaling $9,000 funded by UPS, Keep America Beautiful, and The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation.

The grants have been matched with local donations of expertise, materials, and volunteer hours from a number of community partners including the Community Tree Council, the Clarke County School District, the Athens-Clarke County Cooperative Extension, Caterpillar, the local UPS Customer Service Center, the UGA College of Environment and Design, Hungry Gnome Gardenscapes, New Urban Forestry, and the Athens Land Trust.  

The orchard plantings will provide the community with outdoor learning spaces to teach the environmental, economic, and aesthetic significance of green spaces while providing students and the community with fresh, healthy, locally grown fruits and nuts.  The orchards will complement existing agricultural programs at each site.   These edible trees will provide aesthetics, shade, tree cover, botanical information, and fruits and nuts.  All orchards are on publicly accessible property, increasing the reach of this project into the community.  Trees included in the plans include Figs, Persimmon, Pomegranate, Paw Paw, Pear, Apple, Plum, and Pecan.  The projects also include muscadine vines and blueberry bushes.