CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two years ago, a study done by TreesCharlotte revealed something staggering. The city of Charlotte was losing more than three football fields' worth of trees a day. 

What You Need To Know

  • Charlotte is losing more than three football fields' worth of trees a day, according to a study done by TreesCharlotte and the University of Vermont 

  • The Dilworth Community Association is trying to raise $25,000 to purchase and plant more trees in Dilworth

  • The neighborhood started their Share the Shade fundraiser three years ago and since then they’ve planted 55 trees in the neighborhood

If you drive through neighborhoods like Dilworth, it’s something you’ll start to notice if you look close enough.

Eighth-grade student Sophia Clare learned about this and other tree facts over the last year. Facts can be found on tree tags scattered around her Dilworth neighborhood as well. 

The neighborhood’s tree canopy committee needed someone who could design these tags, so Clare stepped up to help. 

“Other people are going to see what I’ve designed and stuff that I’ve worked really hard to make,” she said. 

These tags Clare designed are all part of the committee’s tree planting fundraiser, called Share the Shade. 

Liz Lewis serves on the committee and says Share the Shade is all about preserving the neighborhood's trees. 

“The mature canopy (is) right here, and we want all of our streets to be able to look like that if possible,” she said. 

This fundraiser started three years ago and since then Lewis says they’ve planted 55 trees in the neighborhood.

“We’re trying to get the most that we can in the ground so that they will grow the fastest and provide shade,” said Lewis. 

Back in 2019 the University of Vermont and nonprofit Trees Charlotte conducted a study showing Charlotte is losing three football fields worth of trees a day.  In the last six years, Charlotte has lost 8% of its tree canopy, according to the study.  

Lewis is hoping this fundraiser will help. They are working to raise $25,000 to plant 35 more trees.

When a new tree is planted, Clare’s tags end up being displayed as a way to say thank you. Through these tags, Clare hopes it will encourage people to get interested in protecting Charlotte’s trees. 

“In the future I’ll try to join a committee like this and try to help keep doing this,” she said. 

The Dilworth Tree Canopy Committee is collecting donations from now until December 4. 

Lewis says they also plan to use a portion of the money to help another neighborhood in Charlotte preserve and protect their tree canopy.

If you are interested in making a donation or learning more about their master tree plan, you can find more information here.