Take Action / Urban Forestry
Our goal is to plant 50,000 trees by 2040
The trees that directly protect our homes and neighborhoods from flooding, extreme heat, pollution, and soil erosion are the most vulnerable to development and the pressures of a changing climate.
Asheville GreenWorks is leading local efforts to protect our urban trees and restore our tree canopy.
NOAA Heat Mapping Campaign
This summer, GreenWorks lead a community-wide effort to map the hottest neighborhoods in Asheville and parts of Buncombe County, as one of 18 cities in an international NOAA study on extreme heat in urban areas.
Learn more about the campaign and see how you can get involved.
Native Tree Adoption
Formerly our “Tree Giveaway”
Planting trees creates greater climate resilience for our entire community!
By planting native trees, we protect our families from extreme heat, flooding, erosion, wind, and air pollution, as well as feed the native pollinators that feed our local food system.
Join our newsletter to stay up-to–date on our upcoming tree adoption events.
To meet our ambitious goal to plant 50,000 trees by 2040, GreenWorks maintains two tree nurseries where we grow over 2,000 trees per year. At our Sand Hill Tree Nursery and Orchard, our volunteer TreeKeepers help grow the native fruiting, shade, riparian, and shade trees bound for our tree adoption events. We also maintain our Hardesty Lane Tree Nursery, where we grow trees destined to be planted on land owned by the City of Asheville. Learn more about our nurseries.
Join a Tree Nursery Workday
Our amazing volunteers help us start, pot, prune, water, label, and otherwise care for these trees as they grow strong enough to survive on their own.
Want to join the fun?
Grow and plant the trees that restore our urban tree canopy, protect us from extreme weather, and improve our community’s climate resilience.
Our TreeKeepers:
Help us take care of the trees in our nurseries
Plant trees in the community during special workdays
Care for the trees in their own neighborhoods
Identify places where new trees may thrive
Become a TreeKeeper
Honor a Treasured Tree
Did you know our oldest trees do the most to protect our community from a changing climate?
For over 40 years, we’ve honored our ancient, rare, and special trees to:
Bring public awareness to these valuable and irreplaceable trees
Increase tree owners' awareness of the unique importance of trees
Encourage stewardship of our urban forest
Protect all trees from indiscriminate removal or irreparable damage during development
Raise awareness of the diversity, sensitivity, and importance of the tree canopy
Each sign is $35 and we accept cash or check! If you are struggling financially, there is also an option for you. Please fill out the form below as honest as possible.
Want to honor a Treasured Tree in your neighborhood?
Spotlight: Swannanoa Valley Tree Alliance
We love it when residents get creative to protect their local trees. Swannanoa Valley Tree Alliance is a collaboration between Asheville GreenWorks, Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center, Black Mountain Urban Forestry Council, and other stakeholders of our community forest canopy. The Alliance was formed to celebrate and honor Treasured Trees in the Swannanoa Valley.
Community Food Tree Project
The GreenWorks Community Food Tree Project establishes food orchards on public land throughout Asheville and Buncombe County in partnership with communities that lack easy access to fresh, healthy produce.
Learn More about Urban Forestry
Our education team has put together games, activities, and resources to help you learn more about our urban trees, and the vital role they play in protecting us from a changing climate.
Head on over to our Learn section for family friendly activities and more!