If you have gloves and a shovel, you can help plant some 300 trees along a barren bike path at Armstrong Bike Park, near Fairfield Elementary, in Richmond’s East End this Saturday.
The trees have been donated from Reforest Richmond, which is trying to increase the city’s tree canopy by 60% by 2037.
The decade old non-profit Richmond Cycling Corps is spearheading the planting. The group is a small outreach program that uses cycling as a means to build relationships with youth living in the East End.
Matt Kuhn, the executive director, says the tree planting is part of their overall mission.“One of the facets of our programming, the Armstrong Bike Park, is in need of some love,” he said . “It's in the middle of a field that fills with water and becomes a swamp after it rains.”
Kuhn said the Corps are in the process of turning the “swampiest area” into a rain garden that will catch all the water in the field. He hopes to direct it to some new, native to Virginia plants, with the goal of making its way down and out away from the field.
The three-hour free event starts at 10 a.m. Saturday.
People who volunteer will need to wear a facemask and maintain physical distancing. Kuhn suggests bringing gloves -- and if possible a shovel and wheelbarrow.
For more information, look up “ Reforesting Workshop with Richmond Cycling Corps” on Facebook.
