Trailside trees planted to celebrate Arbor Day
Bella Vistans gathered to celebrate Arbor Day last Friday, April 27.
City council member Linda Lloyd said that this celebration is one of the requirements for the city to be recognized through the Tree City USA program, a program put in place by the Arbor Day foundation that provides support to tree-friendly communities.
While Bella Vista does already have a lot of trees, she said, the resources this program can provide are valuable.
“It’s more than just our trees,” Lloyd said. “We need to do proper stewardship.”
In particular, she said builders need to be educated. Improper construction, she said, can kill trees and lead to costly removals down the road. In many cases, she said, builders are clear cutting lots.
“There’s a lot of tree education we need to do,” Lloyd said.
Alison Litchy, Urban Forestry Coordinator with the Arkansas Forestry Service, came up from Little Rock to speak and help plant trees at the Bear Hollow trailhead.
The trees being planted, she said, were two-yearold Shumard Oak and Bald Cypress, both native to Arkansas.
“It’s a beautiful tree,” she said.
Bella Vista resident Nancy Gilmore showed up for the celebration. It was good to see the city putting trees alongside this trailhead, she said, because they will provide excellent shade for that parking lot in the future.
“I am just so glad we’re doing it,” she said.
Patti Erwin with the Arkansas Forestry Commission said this celebration was a good chance to put new trees.
“Today, we are celebrating National Arbor Day,” she said. “Of course, any time’s a good time to plant a tree.”