A better watershed, one tree at a time
Each year, in the New River Valley, volunteers help to plant thousands of native trees that will provide shade, habitat, and food to benefit the land, wildlife, and people for generations to come.
The Blacksburg Big Plant 2026 – more info
Where: Blacksburg, VA
When: Saturday and Sunday, March 28th and 29th; shifts from 9am to 12pm, 1 am to 4pm
Who: All ages and abilities welcome! Whether a forester or first-time tree planter, we welcome you!
We need field leaders to supervise tree planters and quality control check so we can have happy, healthy trees–sign up above
Tools will be provided to all volunteers and field leaders. Bring your own weather-appropriate gear, water, snacks, and closed-toe footwear.
The Radford Big Plant 2026 – more info
Where: Bisset Park, Radford, VA
When: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, March 20th, 21st, and 22nd
Who: All ages and abilities welcome! Whether a forester or first-time tree planter, we welcome you!
Tools will be provided to all volunteers. Bring your own weather-appropriate gear, water, snacks, and closed-toe footwear.
“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is now”
History of the Big Plant
Ecological Restoration Collaborative’s stream restoration effort “sprung its roots” in 2014 with a 0.5-acre riparian buffer planting on Stroubles Creek. Since then, many partners and community members have joined together over a shared goal of protecting and restoring local waters and streamside habitat.
2019: Ibrahim Mohamed of the Environmental Coalition at Virginia Tech and Tom Saxton of Stroubles Creek Coalition partner to establish the first annual Big Plant. 300 volunteers plant 2,000 bare root seedlings at Paris Mountain Farm, 4,000 live stakes on Stroubles Creek near Foxridge, and 200 oaks near the New River Junction.
2020: 800 volunteers plant 12,050 trees on Stroubles Creek.
2021: 7,500 trees planted on Stroubles Creek.
2022: 8,950 trees planted on Holtan Branch by The Environmental Coalition at Virginia Tech and 500 volunteers led by Emily Philpott. 500 trees planted on Stroubles Creek by Stream Lab At VT / Virginia Tech Biological Systems Engineering led by Dr. Cully Hession. 200 native shrubs given away to local community members for planting around the Blacksburg region at their homes.
2023: 700+ volunteers plant 10,000 trees on Stroubles Creek.
2024: 500+ volunteers plant 14,200 trees of 35 different native species on Stroubles Creek.
2025: Hundreds of volunteers plant 3,610 native trees and shrubs across 37 native species (1,000 at Virginia Tech’s Stadium Woods and 2,610 at Stroubles Creek).
Radford kicks off their inaugural Big Plant at Bisset Park on the banks of the New River. Event led by partners Nursery Natives, New River Conservancy, and Feeding Appalachia. 150+ volunteers plant 100+ container-grown native trees across 45 different species.
2026: Ecological Restoration Collaborative & Partners join together for the eighth annual Blacksburg Big Plant and the second annual Radford Big Plant
Partners:
- The New River Conservancy
- Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF)
- Environmental Coalition at Virginia Tech
- AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)
- Virginia Tech Office of Sustainability
- Stream Lab at Virginia Tech
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
- Virginia Tech Biological Systems Engineering
- Virginia Tech Urban Forestry
- Conservation Services Inc.
- Radford Parks and Recreation
- City of Radford
- VT Urban Horticulture Center
Thank you to all of our partners who make this possible, and to all of the dedicated individuals and volunteer groups who support this epic tree planting endeavor year after year!
Ecological Restoration Collaborative 