Thank you to everyone who participated in Seattle Forest Week this year, from our partners who organized and hosted events to community members who showed up rain or shine! With the theme ‘Nurturing Forests and Futures: Youth Engagement in Seattle’s Urban Forest’, several events focused on youth leadership and participation. Green Seattle Partnership would especially like to thank this year’s Youth Leadership & Engagement Team:
- Bitania Ashagre who served with Tilth Alliance’s Restoration Celebration at Rainer Beach Urban Farm and Wetland
- Athena O’Callaghan who served with Seward Park Audubon Center at Clark’s Meadow at Seward Park
- Madeline Alviar who served with EarthCorps at Colman Park
- Greta Gronewold who served at Warren G. Magnuson Park
- Hawi Ibrahim who served with Serve Ethiopians Washington’s Tree Planting & Giveaway at Be’er Sheva
- Siyam Mohamed who served with Serve Ethiopians Washington’s Tree Planting & Giveaway at Be’er Sheva
Green Seattle Day
To kick off the weeklong festivities, our partners and Forest Stewards led restoration events across the city for Green Seattle Day on October 26th. Events occurred at 12 different locations, with opportunities for folks to get involved with planting, weeding, mulching, and more.
Burke-Gilman Trail
There were two different restoration events held along the Burke-Gilman Trail by our Forest Stewards, near Gasworks and Matthews Beach Park. In total, there were 80 volunteers and 1,349 plants planted.
Colman Park
EarthCorps led events at Colman Park which included forest bathing that got all ages involved, and restoration work. With the help of 10 volunteers, new trees, sprouts, and shrubs were planted around the site.
Kubota Gardens Natural Area
Partners In Employment (PIE) hosted an event at the Kubota Gardens Natural Area with 26 volunteers and 63 new plants in the ground.
Lincoln Park
This Forest Steward-led event at Lincoln Park had 40 volunteers who supported 240 plantings and 1,000 square feet of mulching.
Magnuson Park
With 152 new plants around the site, our Magnuson Park Forest Steward was joined by 20 volunteers with support from SFW’s youth leadership and engagement team.
Pigeon Point
DNDA hosted their event at Pigeon Point, and was joined by 41 volunteers made up of community members, a local scouts group, and a youth from Pathfinder K8. A few musicians also joined playing the tuba and drums while folks planted 86 trees, shrubs, and plants.
Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetland
Tilth Alliance and Serve Ethiopians Washington partnered up at Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetland for a community centered day. There were activities for youth such as an apple cider press, fall themed treats, art, and youth-led volunteer planting. During this event, there were 77 volunteers that showed up with lots of generational plantings and a community kitchen dinner that focused on reducing food waste.
Ravenna Park
Our Ravenna Park Forest Steward was joined by 30 volunteers who helped plant 85 shrubs, trees, and plants, and cleared 5,000 square feet through weeding.
Seward Park
Hosted by Seward Park Audubon, this Green Seattle Day event had a fantastic turnout from Cleveland Highschool. There were 20 volunteers who joined to support the planting of 100 trees, shrubs, and sprouts; and while enjoying the rain-free day spotted an owl!
Westcrest Park
With 134 plants planted, Dirt Corps was joined by 39 community members, project groups, and the YMCA Earth Service Group. During this event, volunteers also supported weeding and mulching efforts of a 600 square feet space at the park.
Harrison Ridge Greenbelt
Our Harrison Ridge Greenbelt Forest Steward was joined by 7 volunteers who helped plant 37 plants, and cleared invasive species such as blackberry, ivy, and buttercup.
Seattle Forest Week
Youth planting trees and working on art with Futures Rising: Restoration and Co-Creation. Photo Credit: Futures Rising: Restoration and Co-Creation
There were several activities that filled Seattle Forest Week, including tree giveaways from Dirt Corps, family-friendly activities hosted by ECOSS, land and community tending with Futures Rising: Restoration and Co-Creation, Carkeek Park salmon stewards holding time for folks to ask questions about this fall’s salmon run, and several restoration-based events.
Seattle Arbor Day
Seattle’s Arbor Day wrapped up the week, with Serve Ethiopians Washington and Trees for Seattle planting trees at Be’er Sheva Park, Kingfisher Natural Area, and Maple Wood Playfield. Many folks participated, which led to over 300 trees planted – and a uncommon spotting of the Hydnellum Peckii, a mushroom that produces red droplets leading to it’s nickname of the red-juice tooth.
Be’er Sheva Park
Serve Ethiopians WA facilitated their Tree Planting and Giveaway event at Be’er Shiva Park on November 2nd engaging 73 volunteers, installing 100 trees, 100 shrubs and 20 ground covers. SEW also gave away trees as part of their partnership with Tree’s for Seattle
Maple Wood Playfield Natural Area
It was a busy time leading up to these events for our organizers, and we thank you for the dedication put into these opportunities that brought the community together. We are extremely appreciative to those who were able to attend an event and come together to create a healthier and happier Seattle this year. Thank you all for participating in another year of nurturing Seattle’s urban forests!