The Oxford Tree Board recently presented its annual update to the Oxford Board of Aldermen, outlining the group’s ongoing efforts to maintain and improve the city’s urban forest. 

Co-chairman Cowan Hunter spoke during the meeting, emphasizing the importance of trees in the community and the collaborative work the board does alongside various city departments.

The Oxford Tree Board meets monthly—on the first Thursday from 11 a.m. to noon—in the Board of Aldermen meeting room. It serves as an advisory body on all matters related to trees within the city, including those in public parks, rights of way, and the broader urban tree canopy that stretches across Oxford.

The board works closely with several departments, most notably the Department of Buildings and Grounds, led by Greg Pinion, who manages the city’s public trees. The Tree Board also consults with the Planning Department on development issues to ensure tree preservation and integration are part of new growth.

Additionally, the board has stewardship over a tree escrow account, which is used to fund tree planting and other urban forestry projects across Oxford. The group also partners with the Mississippi Forestry Commission, benefiting from mapping and data resources that help guide decision-making. One such initiative is the city’s use of TreePlotter, a statewide tree-mapping program.

Hunter highlighted a successful Arbor Day event that engaged fifth graders from Central Elementary in a poster contest and tree planting, supported by volunteers from the Lafayette County Master Gardeners and a local group known as Friends of the Forest. The board also participated in the Big Event where Ole Miss students helped with tree and brush maintenance in Avent Park.

He also advocated that the board consider hiring a professional arborist within the Buildings and Grounds Department.

“We need to find a way to be able to get someone to that job, someone who has experience and can lead the crews in doing the kind of work that an arborist has to do, and also train other people and work with the tree board and other city departments,” he told the board.