23-04-2025
Earth Day in Lexington: How a tree project is elevating a historic cemetery
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Lexington's African Cemetery No. 2 has been around since 1870, but in the mid-1900s, it was largely abandoned.
'The older trees were starting to die and they were not being replaced,' Mark Coyne, chair of African Cemetery No. 2 Incorporated, said.
The community rallied to save the land, which Coyne said is believed to have about 8,000 people buried in it, and now, no matter where eyes look, there is much green to see.
'So, in addition to being an environment that's a history lab for individuals in Lexington, we're trying to make this into a natural history lab as well,' Coyne said.
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Tyson Gregory with Trees Lexington said there are more than 100 different tree species on the 8-acre property. The organization has played a part in creating what is seen today.
'The more different parts you have, the more everything kind of works together better. So, if we ever get an invasive species rolling through like Emerald Ash Borer again, the diversity of trees here are going to make it resilient,' Gregory said.
There are several reasons trees are important for the environment, especially in Lexington, where the tree canopy is low compared to many other cities of similar size.
More trees mean 'pollution control, water control, stress control, and environment control are all the benefits that we're getting from creating this green space in Lexington,' Coyne said.
Gregory encourages others to plant trees. He said there are side benefits beyond helping the land.
'So if you are someone who really likes hummingbirds in your life, planting a buckeye—it doesn't have to be an Ohio buckeye; there's a few different species—planting any buckeye is a great way to get more hummingbirds around your house,' Gregory said.
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If you cannot plant a tree where you live, there is an opportunity this Saturday to do it somewhere else.
A tree-planting event will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the cemetery.
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