Holly Springs Trade Commission reports strong turnout for Arbor Day distribution

The Holly Springs Trade Commission reported that volunteers and city staff prepared and distributed roughly 300 trees as part of the city’s 2025 Arbor Day activities, members said during the March 11 meeting.

Committee member Speaker 2 said commission members and city crews gathered at 8:30 a.m. on a recent Friday to ready seedlings and had 300 trees prepared in about 45 minutes before handing them out by about 2:00 p.m. “We got 300 trees prepared in about 45 minutes, and we're ready to go,” Speaker 2 said.

Why it matters: The distribution drew robust resident participation and direct interaction between staff and the public, the commission said. Members described the event as a successful civic-engagement activity that put trees into yards across the city and offered an opportunity to increase public awareness about urban canopy goals.

Details from the meeting: Speaker 2 told the commission that turnout was high early, that activity slowed around 1:00 p.m., and that residents remained engaged when receiving trees. Members noted a small $10 donation related to the event was turned into Mr. Logan and will appear on the commission’s next financial report. Several members suggested the commission consider offering fruit-tree varieties as an option at future distributions.

The commission also noted that Mayor Shirley read an Arbor Day proclamation at a prior meeting and that Speaker 3 offered to read the proclamation during this meeting for members’ benefit. No formal policy or funding changes were approved at Tuesday’s meeting; the item was presented as a summary of recent volunteer activity and outreach.

Next steps: Members said they will consider suggestions raised by residents — including the possible inclusion of fruit trees — when planning future Arbor Day distributions and will report back on any changes to selection or procurement.