Not. One. Inch.

Emancipation Oak, photo by Moncure Chatfield-Taylor
Hampton University has a three-word message for the Virginia Department of Transportation: Not. One. Inch.
And they mean it.
They do not plan to give up a single inch of land or blade of grass to make way for the planned expansion of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and the widening of Interstate 64 adjacent to their campus.–Kerry Dougherty, Virginian-Pilot

Read more about the living history of the Emancipation Oak

Lady Bird Johnson would be pleased

RT 20 south looking toward I-64
The trees in the foreground were planted by CATS and the Tree Commission December 2015. Saturday November 5 volunteers converged on this section of highway to do it again, but larger… 73 trees
holes were predrilled
Tree planting basics, a tree, a hole, water, mulch. Holes were predrilled by Windridge Landscaping of Afton.
A challenging place to work, 15,000+ vehicles per day in 2012. One of the worst places in CHO to bicycle.
A challenging place to work, 15,000+ vehicles per day in 2012. One of the worst places in CHO to bicycle.
tulip trees
Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards planting liriodendron tulipfera
tree #1
Tree Commission chair Paul Josey
bare root
Bare root, the way to go.
CATS workers
Many hands speed the work. Everyone involved.
The National Guard arrives.
The National Guard arrives. Planting bare root trees not an Army MOS (Military Occupational Speciality)
Guard members get a quick tutorial.
Guard members get a quick tutorial.
Bremo Trees was the source of the bare root stock.
Bremo Trees was the source of the bare root stock, Swamp White Oaks, Tulip trees, Kentucky Coffee trees and American Elms
Paul Josey giving pointers on the bare root procedure. Critical that trees not be planted too deep.
Paul Josey giving pointers on the bare root procedure. Critical that trees not be planted too deep.
Cooperative effort, many players, Ballyshannon Fund, CATS, Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Charlottesville Tree Commission, National Guard, Bremo Trees
Cooperative effort, many players, Ballyshannon Fund, CATS, Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Charlottesville Tree Commission, National Guard, Bremo Trees, Virginia Department of Forestry, Journey Through Hallowed Ground
Planting a tree instead of a flag. Charlottesville tomorrow has the story.
Planting a tree instead of a flag. Charlottesville tomorrow has the story.(It turns out that was a need for five additional holes. The Guard dug those!)