TreesCharlotte Press Release:

Nearly 500 trees ranging from majestic oaks to flowering crape myrtles were given away at the TreesCharlotte Free Tree Store hosted on the property of SouthWood Corporation on Saturday, Feb. 24.

Lines began forming on the SouthWood campus 2 ½ hours before the store was to officially open at 10 a.m. Shortly after 11 a.m., all 500 trees were gone – a smashing success for a first-ever tree store that TreesCharlotte has held in the Steele Creek area. An estimated 250 people took home trees that will beautify and grow our canopy.

TreesCharlotte is a local non-profit that started six years ago to protect and replenish Charlotte’s beloved tree canopy. Partnering with the city of Charlotte, TreesCharlotte organizes tree plantings at schools, parks, neighborhoods and more; stewards existing trees; holds educational classes and conferences; and hosts several free Tree Stores each year. Anybody with proof of Charlotte residency can get two free trees at the store. Most trees range in height from 6-10 feet and are in 7-gallon containers, which means they make a big impact the instant they’re planted!

SouthWood Corporation has been a terrific partner of TreesCharlotte, with company President John Petrone named to the TreesCharlotte Board of Directors this fall.

To see more photos from the event, check out the TreesCharlotte flickr account.