Trees Alive! A benefit for Seattle's urban forest

Here in the Pacific Northwest it should be a given that majestic trees abound – after all, it was our incredible forests that gave rise to Washington’s motto The Evergreen State.

But in Seattle, especially, current tree ordinances allow developers to decimate large, irreplaceable trees. A group of ardent citizens has formed the Trees & People Coalition to raise awareness and change legislative priorities so as to better balance developers’ impacts on neighborhoods.

On Saturday, June 1st, we were proud to attend and personally supply a matching grant in support of this important organization's work to ensure that ALL of Seattle’s people and neighborhoods enjoy the health and environmental benefits of urban trees.

Featured guest speaker Dave Upthegrove – who chairs the King County Council and is running for Washington State Lands Commissioner – gave an inspiring talk about the many important benefits of healthy urban forests – from habitat and climate change to public health and environmental justice.

Newground's own Nancy Herbert took the stage to read aloud her essay Tree Climb, a moving reminiscence on the first time she climbed as a young girl, a cherry tree in Japan – an experience that sparked her lifelong love of trees.

Please join us in supporting the Trees & People Coalition's important mission.

Bruce Herbert is Newground's founder and chief executive.

Note: This material is intended for educational purposes only. As with all our public writing, blog posts do not constitute tax or financial planning advice; likewise, they are neither an offer to sell nor solicitation to buy any investment or security.