My name is Akshatha; a graduate student in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I am writing to you on behalf of the “Trees and Test scores” research group, led by Professor William Sullivan. We are conducting a study to investigate how varying distances to urban forests, densities of urban forests, and duration of time viewing urban forests are related to student behavior and academic achievement. In the summer of 2012 we are hoping to plant trees in at least four of our twelve experimental school groups across Illinois to get our field observation started. We are writing to you with the hope that you may donate trees towards our research. Also, please put us in touch with others who may be interested and willing to help. Thank You, Akshatha

Greetings Akshatha:

Neither my department here on campus, nor the university as a whole, produces bareroot seedlings for sale or distribution to the general public. Therefore, your best bet is to contact the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources to see if they are able to assist you with your urban tree planting project.

Please start by contacting Dr. Reinee Hildebrandt, state urban forester, with the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources.

Reinee Hildebrandt, PhD Illinois Department of Natural Resources One Natural Resources Way Springfield, IL 62702 Ph: (217)785-8771 Email: reinee.hildebrandt@illinois.gov