ACC Tree Council Names Cobbham Group 2015’s “Friends of the Trees”

ATHENS, April 9–Three intrepid tree planters in Athens’ Cobb Quarter who call themselves “Tree Canopy Committee“ earned the 2015 “Friend of Trees” designation from the Athens Clarke County Tree Council.

Teresa Carson, Sue Custance, and Monica Kapousouz will be recognized at Friday’s GreenFest celebration.

The three tree lovers began working together when they noticed the open spaces in their neighborhood’s tree canopy, resulting from storm damage and tree removals.   In 2015 they approached the Historic Cobbham Foundation, a neighborhood group, for support and obtained a grant to plant 12 oaks, chinese pistaches and trident maples along Hill Street.   They also planted eight fig trees that they had propagated themselves at their home gardens.

Encouraged by the neighborhood enthusiasm for their planting project, they then took on some of the maintenance duties for the Piedmont College-Cobbham Community Park on Hill Street.   They conduct much of the detail work on this important community hub, handling pruning, mulching and other chores, while Piedmont College, who owns the park, handles the weekly mowing.  The community foundation provides funding for the materials, while the tree group volunteers their labor.

Above: Monica Kapousouz, Sue Custance and Teresa Bethke accept the ACC Tree Council awards for their work as the Historic Cobbham Foundation Tree Canopy Team.

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