The New York Restoration Project (NYRP) is working to make the city a bit greener, and this April and May they’re giving away free trees across NYC!
This tree giveaway returned last year after a two year hiatus due to COVID-19, and this spring they have more native species to give away. These species include:
- Allegheny Serviceberry
- American Beech
- American Hornbeam
- American Persimmon
- American Plum
- Bald Cypress
- Basswood
- Black Cherry
- Black Gum
- Black Locust
- Eastern Red Cedar
- Eastern Redbud
- Elderberry
- Flowering Dogwood
- Highbush Blueberry
- Honey Locust
- Northern Red Oak
- Pin Oak
- Red Maple
- Swamp White Oak
- Sweetbay Magnolia
- Sycamore
- Washington Hawthorn
- White Fringe Tree
- Willow Oak
- Winged Sumac
- Witchhazel
Bette Midler founded the New York Restoration Project (NYRP) in 1995 by picking up trash in a park, and it has since evolved into an environmental justice nonprofit and citywide nature conservancy. Today, NYRP’s mission is to combat the climate crisis, and their free tree giveaway is an effort to emphasize the role trees play in nature—they provide shade and oxygen, provide wildlife with shelter and habitats, reduce temperatures, improve the quality of our air, and mitigate stormwater run-off.
In order to receive a free tree all you have to do is register online. Then, once registered, choose one of their many pick-up locations and times across all five boroughs.
This free tree giveaway is going on throughout all of April and May. Learn more here.