Fresh air, cooler temperatures, clean water – they’re just a few benefits trees offer the world. Despite their environmental importance, they’re not always respected, especially in urban areas where development often rules. But across Richmond there are growing efforts to change this.
Among these is Capital Trees, a group organized to help grow and preserve the city’s urban tree canopy. The nonprofit organization was formed in 2011 out of concern for the quality of the city’s trees, especially its street ones.
Since then, the group, which has a strong volunteer base, has collaborated with numerous public and private community partners to increase green spaces around Richmond. In the last fiscal year alone, the group planted around 90 trees across the region including at Canoe Run Park and Henrico’s Deep Run Park and Dorey Park.

The organization’s first project was during its founding year – a streetscape and stormwater management task along 14th Street and the downtown Richmond corridor. “We found in our first project how important trees aren’t only to the quality of life, environment and climate resilience, but how important green spaces are to help trees and people thrive and create biodiverse habitats,” says Shelly Barrick Parsons, its executive director.
Since then, Capital Trees has completed three large-scale projects around Richmond and several smaller community ones. In June, the group is looking to start another at Hotchkiss Field Community Center where 54 trees and 1,000 shrubs and perennials will be planted.
But planting trees around the city isn’t as easy as just finding a spot and digging a hole. It takes meticulous planning.
Building relationships
The organization works closely with its partners to select project sites and whether tree plantings or green space renovation work is needed. “We work with the parks and recreation department on public sites and we’re growing relationships with private citizens for smaller plantings in community parks,” says Barrick Parsons. “We’re working on a couple small projects with a neighborhood association to try building relationships with individuals, businesses and other organizations to identify project sites.”
Adding the right species is also important as what works well in one space might not be ideal in another. “The Low Line is a prime example. It’s along Dock Street and has extreme heat and can have extreme precipitation because it’s so close to the river. It has a very specific ecosystem,” says Barrick Parsons. “If you go a few miles up east or west, it’s a less urban environment so different trees will thrive in different locations.”
Some planted along the Low Line include eastern redbuds, sweet bay magnolias and white fringe trees. “These are mid-size trees so they’re not huge and tall,” says Barrick Parsons. “They do well in urban environments because of their growth and size.”
But for other city projects where there’s more space, black gum, river birch or swamp white oak might be planted – those that often flourish in wet and compact soil. “With the climate changing and there being more urban heat island effects and extremes with precipitation, it’s also selecting trees that are resilient to those factors,” says Barrick Parsons.
Once planted, the trees receive close attention for at least three years until they become established. The organization makes sure they’ll receive proper care, like adequate watering and weeding, to ensure strong growth.
Many urban areas lack adequate tree coverage primarily due to excessive development. This results in a heat island effect which causes them to absorb more warmth, often becoming up to 20 degrees hotter in the mid-afternoon compared to areas with a fuller tree canopy. This isn’t only dangerous to human health but contributes to increased energy usage. This problem is especially evident in lower-income neighborhoods and communities of color where much of the urban forest has been destroyed and neglected, often by city services.
Access to green spaces
In Richmond, the city center lacks the most trees with coverage slightly growing as one moves further out. The Richmond 300 Master Plan aims to increase the city’s urban tree canopy to 60% by 2037 – a guideline adopted by the City Council in 2020 to guide Richmond toward being a more sustainable, equitable and innovative place by its 300th birthday.
“When people have access to green spaces and look out the window at the trees, there’s evidence it improves mental and physical health,” says Barrick Parsons. “It reduces anxiety and blood pressure and improves quality of life.”
Trees and green spaces can also have a unique healing effect on communities giving a sense of protection. “When people have great trees and green spaces in their neighborhoods, they have a sense of place and identity to feel at home,” says Barrick Parsons. “It also increases safety and the perception of safety.”
Capital Trees offers numerous volunteering opportunities and has a community work day later this month. The organization also loves connecting people with green spaces or brainstorming ideas with residents of where to plant trees – seemingly small yet strong steps toward making Richmond a greener and healthier place to live.