Pittsburgh schoolchildren plant more than 700 trees

Pittsburgh schoolchildren have added 250 trees to what was a barren landscape at the Pittsburgh Classical Academy and Gifted Center in Crafton Heights as part of an international effort founded in Australia by Jon Dee and Olivia Newton-John.

Although the tough part was already taken of — digging a hole twice the size of the root ball — the planting was more than an opportunity to plant trees in an urban area in need of the essential greenery. It also was a chance to teach children how to do it, according to Isabela Angelelli, a pediatrician and founder of the One Tree Per Child Pittsburgh.

The planting was one of series of events that wrapped before Thanksgiving, which is prime time for fall planting trees. One Tree Per Child Pittsburgh has offered more than 15 tree planting events at schools throughout the region, with more than 700 trees planted by more than 1,000 students.

The program has been partnering with Tree Pittsburgh to continue add to the nonprofit’s greening of Pittsburgh, offering up free trees and education.

The 250 trees planted last month at Pittsburgh Classical Academy and Gifted Center was helped by a grant from the Alcoa Foundation and American Forests’ Partnership for Trees Program.

The trees will beautify the campus, help thwart erosion and serve as living laboratory for the students. Some trees were planted next to classroom windows for the students to learn about pollinators, birds and other natural phenomena, according to Angelelli.

“The trees will also contribute to providing better air quality, water runoff control and erosion control on the hillside where they were planted,” she said.

Besides the students learning about trees and the importance of planting them, she said “scientific research has shown that kids that attend schools surrounded by trees learn better and perform better at school.”

To learn more about Tree Pittsburgh and its programs, tree giveaways and volunteer opportunities, visit its website.

Editor’s note: The original headline of this story contained an incorrect number.