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Oxford High School partners with local environmentalists to plant more trees on campus

Oxford, Mississippi (December 12, 2023) — Oxford High School recently added twelve new trees to its campus with the help of students, teachers, and volunteers. Hill Country Roots, a student-led environmental service organization from Ole Miss, donated the trees and provided hands-on learning opportunities to the students and volunteers. Hill Country Roots began with four students concerned about erosion in the Oxford community, primarily caused by land development companies clearing land and leading to soil runoff and degrading water quality. The organization has now grown to over 100 members dedicated to volunteering and expanding their knowledge about the environment to better their community.
Students of the CTE Horticulture class, Envirothon group, and Community Service class were all involved in planting the trees. OHS Principal Dr. Dana Bullard and Assistant Principal Lucas Ferguson were also there to lend a hand as well as Horticulture teacher, Ken Hearn. During the planting process, the OSD maintenance and grounds department were also present, providing a hose and demonstrating the process of unlocking the water supply. The Community Service class will be responsible for watering the trees as needed.
Matt Nielson, an ISA certified arborist and owner of Green Groves, a consulting arborist firm in Oxford, helped lead the initiative at Oxford High School and expressed his admiration for Hill Country Roots’ partnership with OHS stating, “It’s a privilege to advise the Ole Miss students of Hill Country Roots as they partner with Oxford High School on this initiative. They are leaving an indelible mark on the community by uniting to plant long-lived shade trees, under which our grandchildren may one day sit.”
The group plans to reunite at Oxford High in the near future to plant an additional eight trees.