Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee

The Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee (TESC) has re-formed as a merging of the Tree and Beautification Committee and the Committee on the Environment. The TESC is currently looking for members! To submit an application, please click here.

The vision of the committee is to establish partnerships with citizens, business owners, and other stakeholders to plan and implement measurable environmentally responsible and sustainable initiatives for Purcellville and our nation.

Members

Planting? Here is Information about What to Plant...and What NOT to Plant!

The Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee has updated the prohibited plant species list for the Town of Purcellville. This volunteer committee has also provided resources below about native plants that are great for your gardening projects, along with Plant and Wildlife Image for Websiteresources about invasive plants. Please consult these as you plan your garden or other plantings. 

Native Plant Lists (do plant)
Invasive Plant Lists (don't plant)

Planting Trees? Be Sure to Mulch the Proper Way!

The information below was created as part of the Virginia Trees for Clean Water grant the town won in 2021. Please be sure to follow these directions for mulching your trees!

Mulching Trees

Purcellville Neighborwoods Grant Program 

Purcellville NeighborWoods Program logoThe Town of Purcellville recently won a grant from the Virginia Department of Forestry to plan and implement the Purcellville NeighborWoods Program. Through this program, the Town of Purcellville's Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee invites HOAs within Town limits to apply for funding to plant native trees and improve water quality.  Applications were due March 1, 2023.

Timeline:

  • December 7, 2022 through March 1, 2023—Applications accepted
  • March 1 through 31, 2023—Applications reviewed, decisions made, and HOAs contacted about award
  • April 1 through June 1, 2023—HOAs with applications that received funding plant trees, prepare documentation for reimbursement, and submit to the Town of Purcellville
  • June 1 through 30, 2023—Town of Purcellville reviews reports, documentation, and prepares reimbursement checks  
  • July 1 through 31, 2023—Town of Purcellville prepares its final report to the VDOF with must include materials and information provided by the HOAs; the Town’s final report is due August 1, 2023 

See the links below for more information:

If you have questions, please email aware@purcellvilleva.gov.


Hail to the Trail logoHail to the Trail

The Town of Purcellville's Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee hosts the annual Hail to the Trail--Purcellville's Green Expo at the Chapman DeMary Trail. The 2021 event was held Sunday, October 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. Get more information on the Hail to the Trail - Purcellville Green Expo section of the Events and Activities page. Follow the Hail to the Trail Facebook page.

Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant 2021 - Increasing the Diversity of Trees at the Suzanne R. Kane Nature Preserve

The Town of Purcellville received a Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant issued by the Virginia Department of Forestry in 2021. Through the project, the town planted trees at the Suzanne R. Kane Nature Preserve to help maintain and improve the habitat, increase the number of native species in the area, and improve water quality so the preserve continues to provide the food, water, shelter, and shade necessary for native wildlife to thrive. The tree plantings were held in the spring and the fall, and completed with the help of volunteers. Watch a video of the plantings with a segment about the value of trees and tips for planting trees shared by Jim McGlone, Urban Forest Conservationist with the Virginia Department of Forestry. The Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee (TESC) also hosted a series of workshops about trees. Jordan Herring, Senior Area Forester with the Virginia Department of Forestry, led each of the three workshops. Additional efforts conducted through this project included flyers, signage, and online outreach through the Town’s website and social media.

Virginia Trees for Clean Water -  Restoring the Riparian Buffer at the Chapman DeMary Trail - 2018
South Fork Catoctin Creek at the Chapman DeMary TrailThe Town of Purcellville is pleased to announce that it is a recipient of the annual Virginia Trees for Clean Water grant issued by the Virginia Department of Forestry. The project is to restore the riparian buffer at the Chapman DeMary Trail, a 10-acre area that runs along the South Fork Catoctin Creek, part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The Town of Purcellville holds the conservation easement for this privately-owned property. The native trees we planted included: black cherry, river birch, sycamore, and willow oak.

What is a Riparian Buffer?

According to the Virginia Department of Forestry website, a riparian buffer is a “streamside forest” with plants that line waterways to protect them from the impacts of surrounding land use. The functions of riparian buffers include:

  • Slowing flood waters and reducing the volume of water through root absorption.
  • Improving water quality by filtering runoff and promoting sediment deposition.
  • Allowing water storage in plant roots and providing pathways to groundwater layers.
  • Providing canopy cover which shades and cools the stream, improving habitat conditions for instream organisms (fish, salamanders, frogs, etc.). This shade also provides relief from extreme heat for terrestrial animals.
  • Providing habitat for a variety of birds and small mammals. These buffers also act as corridors to similar habitat, providing food, shelter and nesting sites.

Riparian areas also provide great opportunities for recreational activities such as fishing, hiking, bird-watching, picnicking and camping.


TESC collage for website