Nashville Tree Foundation Aims to Restore Damaged Tree Canopy

Group working to replant and assess neighborhoods hit hardest by winter ice storm.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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The Nashville Tree Foundation is leading efforts to restore the city's tree canopy after it suffered significant damage from a recent ice storm. The group is currently assessing which neighborhoods need the most attention, recording damaged or dead trees, and working to educate leaders on the best practices for planting and maintaining trees. As the city recovers, the foundation is calling for volunteers to help with the replanting and care of new trees in the coming weeks.

Why it matters

Trees provide crucial health and environmental benefits to Nashville communities, but the ice storm caused widespread damage to the city's tree canopy. The Nashville Tree Foundation's restoration efforts are vital to ensuring the long-term health and resilience of the urban forest.

The details

According to Nashville Tree Foundation Executive Director Kelly Tipler, the best time to plant many trees is actually during the winter months. The group is currently assessing which neighborhoods like Bellevue, Donelson, Oak Hill, and Brentwood saw the most damage from the storm, with scores of old growth trees toppled by the ice. As the city moves forward with recovery, the foundation is working to educate leaders on the importance of 'right tree, right place' when replanting.

  • The massive winter ice storm caused significant damage to Nashville's tree canopy in early 2026.

The players

Nashville Tree Foundation

A nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and expanding Nashville's urban forest.

Kelly Tipler

Executive Director of the Nashville Tree Foundation.

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What they’re saying

“We firmly believe in and have been talking with our state and our national partners about 'right tree, right place.' Natural disasters happen, and this ice storm is certainly one of them. But I think we don't want to villify trees. We want to make sure that we still have them. They provide a lot of benefits — health benefits, and we can't lose that.”

— Kelly Tipler, Executive Director, Nashville Tree Foundation (WKRN)

What’s next

The Nashville Tree Foundation will need volunteers to help plant and care for new trees in the coming weeks as part of the restoration effort.

The takeaway

The Nashville Tree Foundation's work to restore the city's damaged tree canopy is crucial for maintaining the environmental and health benefits that urban trees provide. By taking a strategic approach to replanting, the foundation aims to build a more resilient and sustainable urban forest for Nashville.