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YOUR GUIDE FOR AN ECO-FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE
IF TREES COULD SING
New BeltLine installation matches musicians with greenery
By Sue G. Collins
Rapper 8Ball wants you to stop and think about trees. “They are
alive. They are amazing. Trees watch over us, they are the oldest and
tallest living thing on earth. A single tree can remove more than one
hundred pounds of air pollution in a year.”
He and more than a dozen other nationally recognized
recording artists are part of a new project on the Atlanta BeltLine
Arboretum of the Eastside Trail, running from the southern tip of
Piedmont Park to the Old Fourth Ward.
A collaboration between The Nature Conservancy of Georgia
and Trees Atlanta, “If Trees Could Sing” aims to bring Atlantans
closer to nature via their smartphones. Signs posted in front of 18
trees along the Eastside Trail offer testimonials from musicians, facts
on the trees and a plug for conservation. Each small sign explains
how to text for a direct link to the artists’ video and contains a
QR code for instant access to the commentary on The Nature
Conservancy site.
“We are planning to add more local artists, including Atlanta’s
own Doria Roberts, who played at the project’s recent launch,” said
Deron Davis, executive director at The Nature Conservancy. “We
worked hard to cross reference the trees in the Arboretum with the
interests of the artists so their videos were authentic, and we were
careful to confirm their commitment to environmental protection.”
Roberts’ own video and tree are expected to be added this year,
joining posts featuring Amy Grant, Suzy Bogguss, Taylor Hicks and
Georgia’s own Chuck Leavell. In his testimonial, singer-songwriter
Will Hoge explains his affinity for the willow oak, or the ‘Will Hoge
oak,” as he dubs it. In his introduction to the chinkapin oak, fiddler
Tim O’Brien plays a little number called “Chinkapin Hunting,” and
touts the tree’s sweet acorns and urban cooling properties.
The project was first launched by The Nature Conservancy in
Tennessee (home to many of the featured musicians) where there
are now 11 trails in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and in state
parks. To date, no other states have climbed on board, though Davis
reports the Tennessee trustees were very generous sharing their
established artists and project infrastructure and technology. He
promises Georgia would be happy to do the same.
“It’s a low-cost project. We benefitted from seed money funding
from International Paper’s donation in Tennessee, donated time
from videographers and funding from Trees Atlanta,” Davis said.
“Trees Atlanta has been an incredible partner in this project. Our
missions are aligned with education and outreach, and they are
plugged into Intown parks, and of course with the BeltLine.”
Connie Veates, co-executive director at Trees Atlanta, said the
love affair is mutual. She saw news of the project online and reached
out to Davis for a collaboration. “It’s been a lovely partnership, and
we would love to see more local artists involved as we expand the
project, possibly up through Piedmont Park,” she said.
Trees Atlanta has planted more than 1,000 trees of multiple
species along the BeltLine, along with more than 10 acres of grasses
and wildflowers.
“Trees Atlanta is a wonderful partner who builds and maintains
the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum in addition to their extensive
educational programming,” said Paul Morris, Atlanta BeltLine
president and CEO. “‘If Trees Could Sing’ merges their work on the
Eastside Trail with the goal to increase people’s knowledge of our
native trees.”
All three organizations value connectivity for the urban
population and “If Trees Could Sing” is the first Intown initiative for
The Nature Conservancy, which works to protect forests, improve
waterways’ health and ensure a sustainable future for coastal and
marine resources throughout the state. Project designers worked
with limitations to protect the integrity of the Eastside Trail
Arboretum and paved path. Wood posts holding the signs were
installed a respectable distance off the BeltLine and blend in with
the natural surroundings.
So, next time you’re on the BeltLine, stop and pull out your
phone, and find out what trees might say if they could indeed sing.
“Seriously, what would our parks be without trees? I’m thinking,
not so gnarly. .... join me and the nature conservancy to take care of
our trees so our trees can take care of us,” urges 8Ball. ESI
Aurora Dogwoot
(Cornusflorida aurora)
Text AURORA to 97779 or scan this QR code with your
smartphone to see Doria Roberts talk about this tree and how
it benefits people. You can also view Doria Roberts' video at
Courtesy Atlanta BeltLine
From left, The Nature Conservancy of Georgia Executive Director Deron Davis, singer Doria Roberts and Trees Atlanta co-
Executive Director Connie Veates on the Atlanta BeltLine.
22 June 2016 | INtOWIl
AtlantalNtownPaper.com