Five Tree Stewards from the Front Royal/Warren County chapter performed April 12^th a play on topping trees for 200 students in the second and third grades at Ressie Jeffries Elementary School in Front Royal

The play focuses on the ill effects of topping trees and the benefits of proper pruning and was written and narrated by Trees Virginia Board member Mike Kenyon. “Stopping homeowners from topping trees is difficult,” Kenyon said, “but by talking to young students in a way they can understand, maybe we can get the message home.” Students were given copies of a poem on “What a Tree Needs” and the Trees Virginia brochure “Experts Agree Don’t Top Your Tree” to take home to parents.

Tree Steward President Herb Rinehart who played the topped tree in the play said that he was pleasantly surprised at how involved the students were in the outcome of the play. Rinehart said when he asked a second grader what he had learned, the student said “I learned it hurts a tree when it is topped and I am going to tell my parents.”

In addition to Kenyon and Rinehart, the other Tree Stewards performing were Kaycee Lichlites, June Rinehart and Ramona Stickley. Using a Trees Virginia poster showing a topped tree, the Tree Stewards completed their program by discussing the benefits of trees and reminded students of Arbor Day activities planned for the next day.

Production of the play and program activities were supported in part with funding from the National Tree Trust. Tree topping brochures and posters are available from Trees Virginia at 540-557-2363 or vufc@vt.edu.