HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL NR 2020-04-24 Arbor Day
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
April 24, 2020
Media Contact:
Leah Kosin, Assistant Public Information Officer
lkosin@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2781
Leesburg Recognizes April 24 as Arbor Day
Leesburg, VA (April 24, 2020) – Following an April 14
proclamation made by the Leesburg Town council, Leesburg
recognizes today, April 24, 2020, as National Arbor Day.
As a Tree City USA recipient for over 30 years, the Town must
proclaim an Arbor Day each year and hold a tree planting
celebration. However, due to the effects of COVID-19, the
event will be postponed until later this fall.
“As with all facets of life it seems everything is a bit turned
upside down at the moment but trees are rooted firmly and
still green side up,” said the Town’s Urban Forester and
Certified Arborist Tyler Wright.
“Trees are still providing ecosystem services to us each day in
the form of cleaning our air and water, protecting you and facilities from UV-light degradation,
and keeping us greener and cooler,” Wright said. “As we will not install a new tree at this time, I
recommend residents get out into nature, using social distancing practices and protecting
yourself from the current health situation we are all in, and seeing the forest through the
trees.”
Wright said there are plenty of areas in Loudoun County and Leesburg to see, “truly
magnificent sights and sounds the forest has to offer.” He also recommended the “Historic Tree
Walk”, created by the Leesburg Tree Commission, as another way to see a wide variety of
mature native and exotic trees right in the historic downtown.
Leesburg has been recognized as Tree City USA since 1989, for its commitment to effective
urban forest management.
The Leesburg Tree Commission provides leadership to enhance, expand, and preserve the tree
canopy in the Town of Leesburg for the benefit of the community. The Commission is dedicated
to promoting tree preservation and planting within the Town limits, providing a healthy and
diverse tree canopy, and ensuring a superior quality of life for all Town residents through the
use of ecosystem service benefits which trees provide. Trees act as our "Green Civil Servants"
and are seen as a necessity instead of a nicety.
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