Homegrown National Park, an organization that raises awareness and urgently inspires everyone to address the biodiversity crisis by adding native plants and removing invasive ones where we live, work, pray, and play, recently featured the work Tennessee Wesleyan is doing to promote those efforts.

In a recent article titled “Nature’s New Classroom,” Tennessee Wesleyan University was one of nine colleges from across the United States and the only campus in Tennessee that was recognized leading the way with healthier landscapes.

The article specifically referenced the Tennessee Tree Day event where students, faculty, and groundskeepers planted 30 native trees, including flowering dogwood and eastern redbud saplings on TWU’s campus.

Also, the article highlighted the longstanding partnership between Tennessee Wesleyan and the City of Athens. The Tree Campus USA status and Athens being recognized as a Tree City USA further demonstrates the commitment both organizations have to address the biodiversity crisis, as Homegrown National Park refers to it, of ecosystems losing native species.

The Athens campus is comprised of approximately 60 acres and features many native species, gardens, and hardscapes.