Nebraska’s Ten Free Trees Program Thrives, Boosting Green Spaces Across the State
The Nebraska Forest Service’s Ten Free Trees program continues to make a significant impact by helping communities enhance public green spaces through free tree distribution and environmental education efforts. In partnership with the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and multiple funding sources, the program provides up to ten free trees for projects in public areas such as parks and schools.
Key Highlights from the 2024 Fall Season:
- 1,067 trees planted through
- 137 projects in
- 90 communities across Nebraska
- 2,713 volunteer hours contributed, valued at $90,000+
Kendall Weyers, Sustainable Landscape Specialist at the Nebraska Forest Service, emphasized the program’s long-term impact:
“It’s impossible to know exactly how many lives were touched by this effort, but the impact is clearly massive.”
Notable Community Impact:
- City of Wahoo: Received ten trees for a cemetery revitalization project.
- Local Scout Troop 140 assisted in planting, helping reestablish tree canopy with diverse species.
Program Support and Outreach:
- Trees supplied by seven Nebraska nurseries
- Funded by:
- Nebraska Environmental Trust
- USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry grant
- Landscape Scale Restoration grant
- Program expansion included workshops, training events, and student-led educational activities statewide.
The Ten Free Trees initiative continues to demonstrate how grassroots action and statewide collaboration can create lasting environmental and community benefits.
