Bel Air Aims To Boost Urban Tree Canopy, Seeks Residents To Plant Trees In Rights-Of-Ways

BEL AIR, MD — Residents willing to allow the town of Bel Air to plant trees in rights-of-way near their homes can help increase the community's urban tree canopy. Almost 70 percent of publicly maintained rights-of-way in town are canopy-free.

However, not all rights-of-way are ideal for planting trees. Some are too narrow while others have utilities buried underground or wires hanging overhead. Spaces along residential streets that are at least four feet wide are good candidates for planting, officials noted.

Anyone interested in participating should contact Bel Air's planning department at 410-638-4540 for more information. The program is free of charge for residents. Town staff will review potential sites for any under or above-ground obstructions and determine if they are good for planting. The trees will be planted this fall, with another batch slated for next spring.

Multiple species of tree are available, including native and non-native trees, such as the Eastern Redbud, Yoshino Cherry and London Planetree. The town will purchase the trees – using funds collected through the forest conservation fee-in-lieu paid by developers – once requests are made and staff determine the sites in the public rights of way are suitable.