City of Hot Springs Urban Forester Allen Bates and the Arkansas Forestry Commission (AFC) are having a tree giveaway event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, April 23, at the Garland County Library in recognition of National Arbor Day, which is April 30.
Bates will be providing 100 free trees of each of the following species: cherrybark oak, chinkapin oak, overcup oak and baldcypress bare root seedlings. The AFC will be giving away white oaks, two year-old water oak seedlings and tree planting information.
Bates said the event is being held to help promote tree planning and to grow the Hot Springs urban forest. This giveaway, along with the one held on March 5, will add more than 800 trees to be planted in our community.
The tree giveaway is being held a week in advance of National Arbor Day because the Natural State Tree Climbing Championship at Entergy Park is scheduled for the weekend of May 1 – 2. The championship is sponsored by the Arkansas Urban Forestry Council (AUFC). Anthony Whittington, Parks & Trails director, is the current AUFC board president, and Bates is a board member. The championship event is free and open to the public, and spectators are advised to bring lawn chairs. Competitions will include throwline, open ascent, work climb, aerial rescue and the master’s challenge. The open ascent event will be held at night with lasers and fog machines.