Aiken County Plants 400 Trees to Rebuild Canopy After Hurricane Helene
Keep Aiken County Beautiful planted over 400 trees in March. They worked with the Arbor Day Foundation to fix damage from Hurricane Helene.
Keep Aiken County Beautiful planted over 400 trees in March. They worked with the Arbor Day Foundation to fix damage from Hurricane Helene. MathWorks paid for it.
Workers planted several trees on March 20 at the Aiken County Government Center on University Parkway. An arborist from the area ran the planting session, showing residents how to pick the right tree for each spot and keep them alive for years.
"Trees can heal the scars left by natural disasters and help us persevere after loss," said Lachel Bradley-Williams, senior manager of community trees for the Arbor Day Foundation, per the Aiken Standard. "Rebuilding doesn't happen overnight. Meaningful recovery takes time, and we're here for the long-haul, ready to work side-by-side with local leaders like Keep Aiken County Beautiful. Because together, we can grow hope."
The county lacks a tree canopy program. This project sets up a foundation for a smarter approach down the road, pairing planting with fruit and nut tree giveaways to residents.
"Planting trees is about more than beautification; it's about prevention and pride," said Kandace Cave, coordinator of Keep Aiken County Beautiful. "When people feel a sense of pride in their surroundings, they're more likely to care for them and protect the place they call home."
Keep Aiken County Beautiful launched in 2019. Since then, the group has planted close to 2,000 trees through grants.
"We are grateful for the support of MathWorks and the Arbor Day Foundation as we continue our efforts to replant and restore Aiken County's tree canopy," Cave added.
The Arbor Day Foundation has planted more than half a billion trees with partners across five decades. Over 1 million members work with them to build a better world through trees.
