Oroville botanical gardens awarded for tree planting

OROVILLE » The Oroville Botanic Gardens and Education Center was presented the Henry J. Banker Gold Leaf Award by the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture at its 88th Annual Conference and Trade

Show, Innovative Arboriculture: Experiencing the Urban Forest, in Oakland earlier this month.

OBGEC President Susan Sims accepted the award which recognized OBGEC’s tree planting project in the greater Oroville area. The nonprofit’s volunteers have planted 200 trees at local parks, schools and community centers and will be planting another 130 trees before the end of the year. The tree planting project was made possible through a $100,000 grant to OBGEC from California ReLeaf Social Equity Urban Forest Grant Program.

“It’s an awesome honor to have professionals recognize us for our community beautification tree planting. It’s really a big deal,” said Sims.

The award plaque for “Outstanding Landscape Beautification” is on display in the Oroville Chamber of Commerce.

Sims, who is also a Master Arborist, will be teaching a free Citizen Arborist Class from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on May 28 at the center located in the Dunstone Memorial Hall, 4790 Foothill Blvd.

This is an introductory class that is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about trees. It also serves as a refresher course for current citizen arborists. Badges of completion will be awarded to newcomers at the end of the class.

Citizen arborists help the community by taking leadership roles at community tree plantings such as the one that took place at Riverbend Park in January where volunteers in partnership with Feather River recreation and Park District planted 90 trees.

For more information visit www.obgec.com.