Hundreds of native trees, shrubs planted for Richmond’s first-ever tiny forest

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Hundreds of native tree seedlings and shrubs were planted at Fonticello Park on Saturday, marking the first-ever tiny forest in Richmond.

On Saturday, March 15, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Richmond Parks and Recreation, as well as volunteers planted about 250 native tree seedlings and shrubs into a compact 30 by 60-foot area in Fonticello Park to create a "tiny forest."

Volunteers planting trees and shrubs at Fonticello Park in Richmond on Saturday, March 15. (Photo courtesy: William Berksteiner, 8News)

(Photo courtesy: William Berksteiner, 8News)

(Photo courtesy: William Berksteiner, 8News)

(Photo courtesy: William Berksteiner, 8News)

8News spoke with Ann Jurczyk, urban restoration manager for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, who said about 40 volunteers planted 25 different species of trees on Saturday.

"The purpose of what we're doing is to try to accelerate getting a forest back into this area of town where there are some heat equity issues," Jurczyk said.

Jurczyk said this will be the first tiny forest in Richmond. Other nearby tiny forests can be found in Fairfax County, the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Alexandra Scott, who lives in the neighborhood, said she is excited about the tiny forest.

"More trees are always better," Scott said. "Adding forests to the community means oxygen. It means a habitat for insects and birds -- and we can't live without that -- but also it's going to cool down the air."