The Ashland TREE Project is a community tree-planting initiative offering 100 free trees to eligible Ashland, Virginia residents and businesses, made possible through the Virginia Department of Forestry's Trees for Clean Water grant program and supported by partners including the Town of Ashland, James River Nurseries, TreeDiaper, Tree City USA, and the Randolph-Macon SERVE Program.
What Is the Ashland TREE Project?
The Ashland TREE Project is a coordinated effort to grow a healthier, more resilient community canopy in the Town of Ashland. Through the program, eligible Ashland residents and businesses can receive a free tree on a first-come, first-served basis, along with planting support and tree care education to help that tree thrive long-term. The goal is not just to put trees in the ground, but to make sure they are still standing — and growing — twenty years from now.
James River Nurseries is honored to be one of the partners helping make this happen. JRN has been part of the Ashland community since 1983, and supporting projects that strengthen the town's tree canopy is exactly the kind of work the team is proudest of.
Why Community Tree Planting Matters in Virginia
Trees are some of the most cost-effective infrastructure a town can invest in. A mature tree canopy filters stormwater before it reaches local creeks, reduces the urban heat island effect, lowers cooling costs for homes and businesses, supports pollinators and migratory birds, and visibly improves quality of life on every street it shades. The Virginia Department of Forestry's Trees for Clean Water grant program exists specifically to fund this kind of canopy growth in towns and cities across the Commonwealth.
Who Is Involved
The Ashland TREE Project brings together a strong group of partners:
- Funding through the Virginia Department of Forestry's Trees for Clean Water Grant Program
- Coordination with the Town of Ashland
- Partnership with TreeDiaper for water-efficient establishment technology
- Tree City USA designation, supporting community-wide forestry standards
- Volunteer support from the Randolph-Macon College SERVE Program
- James River Nurseries, providing planting expertise and ongoing tree care education
What this initiative offers Ashland is bigger than 100 trees. It is a model for how a small town can take care of its canopy long after planting day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can Ashland, VA residents get a free tree?
Eligible Ashland residents and businesses can request a free tree through the Ashland TREE Project on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Information is available through the Town of Ashland and program partners, including James River Nurseries.
What is the Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant Program?
Trees for Clean Water is a grant program administered by the Virginia Department of Forestry that funds community tree-planting projects across Virginia. The program prioritizes plantings that improve water quality, expand tree canopy, and engage local residents in long-term stewardship.
Why are community tree planting programs important?
Community tree planting programs improve air and water quality, reduce stormwater runoff, lower summer temperatures, support pollinators and wildlife, and strengthen the long-term health of urban and small-town environments. Trees planted today provide ecological and economic value for decades.
Plan Your Next Project With James River Nurseries
James River Nurseries is proud to volunteer alongside dedicated community partners to help plant the future, one tree at a time. Learn more about JRN's stewardship work at jamesrivernurseries.com/stewardship.
