Memphis Zoo Honored as a Level 1 Arboretum on Arbor Day

April 28, 2021 - Memphis, Tenn. - The Memphis Zoo is thrilled to host a fun-filled event celebrating Arbor Day this Saturday, May 1, 2021 with the exciting achievement of being named a level 1 arboretum by Tennessee Urban Forestry Council (TUFC). The day will begin at 10:00am with speakers from the TUFC honoring the Memphis Zoo with a plaque to commemorate the certification. This is coming shortly after the Memphis Zoo was certified by a global arboretum registry. There will be a groundbreaking tree planting ceremony by Cat Country to celebrate this special achievement, as well as to express the importance of replacing trees we lost from our large, impactful winter storm this year. There will be scavenger hunts for the kids, as well as planting of tree seedlings! Finally, there will be walking tree tours to highlight each of the 44 trees in the Memphis Zoo’s arboretum. Joining the Memphis Zoo for this event will be dignitaries from the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council, The Memphis Botanic Garden, Overton Park Conservancy, Memphis Area Master Gardeners, Memphis City Beautiful, Wolf River Conservancy, and Shelby Farms Park. This is a special day that no one will want to miss!

What is an arboretum?

An arboretum is a collection of trees. The Memphis Zoo arboretum consists of 44 unique trees each labeled with their scientific and common names. Arboretums are utilized as an educational tool as well as for scientific research. At the Memphis Zoo, we have collaborated with the Overton Park Conservancy to better understand the Old Forest ecosystem that we share. The arboretum is a way for us to better understand our local flora and fauna in order to educate the public on the importance of protecting our trees.

About Memphis Zoo

Memphis Zoo, located in Memphis, Tennessee, is home to more than 4,500 animals representing more than 500 different species. Recently named as one of the top zoos in the country by TripAdvisor® and by USA Today, Memphis Zoo has completed over $118 million in renovations and expansion since the early 1990s. The Zoo’s animal inhabitants reside in one-of-a-kind exhibits, such as Once Upon A Farm, The Commercial Appeal Cat Country, Primate Canyon, Animals of the Night, Northwest Passage, Teton Trek, CHINA - home to giant pandas YaYa and Le Le, and the Zambezi River Hippo Camp. Memphis Zoo was founded in 1906 and resides on 70 acres in the middle of Overton Park. It is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Jessica Faulk

jfaulk@memphiszoo.org