Western Reserve Land Conservancy is celebrating 10 years of work to restore Cleveland’s tree canopy with several tree planting and maintenance events open to experienced and first-time volunteers.

The conservancy launched its Reforest Our City program in 2015, the same year Cleveland released its first tree plan. That plan revealed that the city’s tree canopy — the percentage of ground covered by shade — had shrunk to just 18%, less than half its size in the mid-20th century.

Reforest Our City has planted and distributed 17,625 trees in Northeast Ohio since 2015. About half of those were planted in Cleveland, where the program has focused its efforts over the last five years.

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“There is a saying that the best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago,” said Tom Schreiber, the conservancy’s senior manager of community forestry. “The entire Reforest Our City team takes incredible pride in planting trees for Cleveland residents to enjoy now and in 10, 20 and even 100 years from now.”

The conservancy also offers a tree steward program that trains people how to plant and care for trees. Aspiring tree stewards can begin applying for the 2026 training sessions on Dec. 1.

Until then, there will be several opportunities in October and November to plant or water trees in the Hough and St. Clair-Superior neighborhoods. Click the links below to register.

Plant or water trees in Hough and St. Clair-Superior

Friday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Planting on Linwood Avenue in Hough

Saturday, Oct. 11, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Planting at Africa House in Hough

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Watering at Thurgood Marshall Green in Hough (a new park next to Thurgood Marshall Rec Center)

Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Planting at Mary B. Martin Elementary School and Singleton Health Care Center in Hough

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Watering at Thurgood Marshall Green in Hough

Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Planting at Wade Park Elementary in Hough

Wednesday, Oct. 29. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Watering at Thurgood Marshall Green in Hough

Saturday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Planting on Cornelia Avenue in St. Clair-Superior

Thursday, Nov. 6, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Planting at AKOMA in St. Clair-Superior

Saturday, Nov. 8, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Tree planting at UMADOP in St. Clair-Superior

Tree fans are also invited to Toast to Trees, a fundraiser for the Reforest Our City program on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Black Fog Brewery, 1966 E. 66th St. Tickets are $25. Click the link to purchase.

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Important stories are hiding everywhere, and my favorite part of journalism has always been the collaboration, working with colleagues to find the patterns in the information we’re constantly gathering. I don’t care whose name appears in the byline; the work is its own reward. As Batman said to Commissioner Gordon in “The Dark Knight,” “I’m whatever Gotham needs me to be.”