"It's cold when you start working," he said, "but it doesn't take long to warm up once you start digging and planting. Trees will add so much beauty to these transportation routes. "

Wilkinson is president of Woodland Tree Foundation, a nonprofit organization that is helping maintain Woodland's namesake as the "City of Trees" by supporting urban forestry in the city. The organization has planted more than 1,000 trees in and around Woodland, since the Tree Foundation's first tree planting five years ago.

"Woodland has had a civic tree planting tradition for at least a century," he said. "It feels good to be a part of that history. "

The Woodland Tree Foundation planted its first tree during the city's Arbor Day celebration in 2001, Wilkinson said. Foundation members planted trees on Bush Street between First Street and College streets.

"The asphalt and sidewalk generate a lot of heat in the summertime so downtown shade trees have a big impact," he said. "We thought the event would be a visible way of bringing the community together and call attention to Woodland's long tree tradition. "

Following its formation, the Foundation received its first state grant from the state department of forestry, funded by Proposition 12, to plant trees in the downtown area and low-income neighborhoods, Wilkinson said. The City Council adopted a resolution to provide matching in-kind funds.

Throughout the years, the foundation's funding comes from other grants by the Department of Forestry, Pacific Gas & Electric's Safe Tree Program, donations from local businesses and support from the community, Wilkinson said.

The Foundation does not have any paid staff and relies on volunteers to raise funds and plant trees.

"We find our volunteers through word of mouth and community service announcements," Wilkinson said. "I'm proud of the volunteers that come out to help us because they care about the community and the future environment."

Foundation volunteers include members of the local Boy and Girl Scout troops, churches, college fraternities, volunteer clubs, and AmeriCorps.

The foundation organizes community tree planting events on Saturday mornings with local volunteers, Wilkinson said. Plantings can take up to six weeks to prepare for. City staff needs to determine if certain underground electrical utilities will complicate plantings in the area.

The foundation's volunteers also take extra time to contact neighbors and landlords to approve the plantings in front of their properties.

Regularly scheduled tree plantings will resume in late February with an Arbor Day celebration planned for March 11 at the Gibson House, Wilkinson said.

One of the foundation's goals is to re-introduce native tree species to Woodland, Wilkinson said. For its freeway plantings, the foundation plants mostly native valley oak, black walnut and redbud trees since they are adaptable to the climate.

"We've lost a lot of native oaks due to urbanization," he said. "It's nice to re-introduce them back to the community."

Last March, the foundation organized a large planting of native trees around Plainfield Elementary School, located on local roads 97 and 25A. Each classroom planted a tree seed and the older children and parents planted real trees all around the perimeter of the school.

Within ten years, motorists driving along Highway 113 will also notice the Foundation's work, Wilkinson said. The oak saplings will grow into tall and sturdy trees. These trees can grow two to three feet taller every year and may live more than 400 years.

(c) 2006 The Daily Democrat. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc.