Media Advisory: ReTree the District spreading roots in University District

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Hundreds of volunteers will once again descend on Buffalo’s University District, saplings in hand, for the third round of ReTree the District.

Community members, business owners and University at Buffalo faculty, staff and students will work together to plant 140 trees and take another step toward restoring Buffalo’s reputation as “The City of Trees.”

When: From 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Nov. 7.

Where: The streets to the west of Main Street; from Custer Street to Englewood Avenue. Volunteers will meet on the UB South Campus at 9 a.m.

Media are invited to attend. On-site contact is Hadar Borden, UB Academies director, 716-984-0250.

Why: ReTree the District is an initiative led by the University Heights Collaborative to plant 1,000 trees across the University District.

In less than two years, the project has planted 435 trees between Main Street, Bailey Avenue and Eggert Road; brought together more than 1,000 volunteers and raised more than $20,000 to purchase trees.

Among the 300-plus volunteers that will participate on Saturday are more than 100 UB students, faculty and staff from the UB Academies and Honors College.

ReTree the District is also becoming known for its experimental use of digital technology for community mapping, volunteer recruitment, event coordination and field-based troubleshooting.

As part of the project, Buffalo residents are encouraged to adopt the newly planted trees through a pilot tree stewardship program to increase survivorship rates.

For more information, visit www.ourheights.org/retree.