HARROGATE, Tenn. — The city of Harrogate recently celebrated a milestone 10th year as a certified “Tree City.”

Tree City USA is a national program that provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs.

To qualify as a Tree City, Harrogate must maintain an active tree board and tree care ordinance, spend two dollars per capita on urban forestry programs, and have Arbor Day observances that highlight the importance of trees in the community and their proper care.

This year’s Arbor Day activities included a community sale of trees with brilliant fall coloration, and participation in the annual Tennessee Arbor Day seedling giveaway and sale — hosted by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Harrogate Tree Board and Harrogate Garden Club. The tree board also facilitated a county wide Arbor Day poster contest that involved over 220 students, and a tree planting ceremony conducted at Powell Valley Elementary School.

Harrogate has had a very active urban forestry program over the past 10 years. Major accomplishments include planting trees along 25-E and Hwy 63, the creation of the Daniel Boone Glenway and Arboretum that has over 60 identified tree species native to Tennessee, a memorial grove of trees dedicated to Jim McCune, recognition of Ginkgo trees on LMU campus as certified Tennessee Historic Trees, and facilitated tree care workshops for the public and LMU grounds maintenance crew.

The Harrogate Tree Board has also worked in close partnership with Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) and the Harrogate Garden Club on several tree planting projects.

Future planting projects include extending the greenway to Cumberland Gap High School that will include tree landscaping; and an interpretive planting of trees around the Lincoln Museum with trees associated with Abraham Lincoln.