FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SavATree Lends a Helping Hand to
Historic Woodlawn
May 10, 2011 — Springfield, VA — Senior managers from SavATree, the tree, shrub and lawn care experts, took part in a community service project on Tuesday, May 10 at historic Woodlawn.
Built in 1805, this grand house overlooking the Potomac River was a gift from George Washington to his nephew Major Lawrence Lewis and his wife Nelly Custis. They named the estate “Woodlawn” because of the beautiful oak and other trees shading the hilltop building site of the mansion. Over two centuries later, some of those very same trees, along with some younger ornamentals are benefiting from a generous donation of services from SavATree. “This donation will help Woodlawn’s landscape recover from damage that occurred during the 2010 blizzard, as well as ensure the beauty and security of our trees for years to come,” said Woodlawn’s Director, Dr. Laurie Ossman.
SavATree’s community service program began in 2002, in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy when the company volunteered to assist in the reclamation of Downtown Manhattan. “We performed some much needed tree care at St. Paul’s Chapel which served as a relief center for emergency and rescue workers of Ground Zero,” said Luann O’Brien, SVP of Sales and Marketing at SavATree. “Each year we look for public parks and historic sites that are of significant importance to the local community,” said O’Brien. “This is SavATree’s way of giving back.”
Duane Richardson, Branch Manager and Certified Arborist with SavATree said, “The estate is such a beautiful property, so rich in history — it’s very exciting for us to have the opportunity to make a contribution to such a worthy cause.”
At Woodlawn, 25 SavATree volunteers from eight states helped to bolster the health and enhance the beauty of some of the trees on the property, including the surviving Washington-era oak trees, with proper pruning techniques.
“The donation could not come at a better time,” says Ossman, as Woodlawn shifts its focus toward its historic landscape through a new sustainable farming partnership with Arcadia, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting local growers, local food production and nutrition in the DC-metro region. “Woodlawn was defined by its landscape two hundred years ago, and its trees are as valuable a part of our story as any museum artifact. We are thrilled that SavATree is providing support to help us care for these living witnesses to our community’s rich history.”
About SavATree: SavATree, the green choice for tree service and lawn care, provides environmentally sensible tree, shrub and lawn care services to residential, commercial, historic, government properties and more in select parts of CT, DC, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA and VA. Services include: tree pruning, tree fertilizer, insect control, tree disease and more. Organic, traditional and hybrid options are available. For more information, visit www.savatree.com.