Tim Albritton will be one of the speakers at Arbor Week Tree Seminar, sponsored by Madison Beautification and Tree Board. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Following its annual tradition, Madison Beautification and Tree Board will sponsor a free seminar for Arbor Week.

The Arbor Week Tree Seminar will be held at Madison City Hall on Feb. 23 from 5:15 to 9 p.m. The seminar will offer two free sessions by career horticulturists who will provide Continuing Education Unit (CEU) points for arborists.

“Residents are welcome and encouraged to attend the presentations,” board publicist Mike Keenan said. “Prior to the seminar, there will be a tree planting at City Hall at 3 p.m., led by Mayor Paul Finley.” 

From 5:30 to 7 p.m., Dr. Art Chappelka, forest biology professor at Auburn University, will discuss “Cultural Heritage of Trees,” which will include the Toomer’s Corner incident at Auburn University when the university’s iconic trees were poisoned.

Chappelka received a doctorate’s degree in plant pathology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1986. Since 1987, Chappelka has been on Virginia Tech’s faculty.

Chappelka has participated in research grants that total $5 million. His primary interests are air pollution, global climate effects to terrestrial ecosystems; and urban forestry/ecology. Chappelka is past chairman of Auburn City Tree Commission and the current chairman of Auburn’s Tree Preservation Committee.

Beautification board members will serve snacks at 7 p.m.

From 7:30 to 9 p.m., State Staff Forester Tim Albritton with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Auburn will present “Multiple Benefits of Planting Trees.” He will cover his personal experience involved with tree planting projects.

Albritton received his associate’s degree in forest technology from Patrick Henry State Junior College and a bachelor’s degree in forest resources from Auburn. He began his forestry career with the Alabama Forestry Commission in 1986 and worked there for 18 years.

A registered forester with the Alabama State Board of Registration for Foresters, Albritton is a member of the Society of American Foresters and serves on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Treasure Forest Program.

Albritton has held membership with Alabama Forestry Council for 13 years and serves as an advisor to the Bradley/Murphy Forestry and Natural Resources Trust. In 2016, he joined the board with the State Board of Registration for Foresters.

For more information, visit Facebook/Madison Beautification and Tree Board.