Ashland Garden Club Rolls Up 30 in Thirty

The Ashland Garden Club has been awarded a 30 in Thirty Grant of $1,000 in the Beautification category. The Ashland Garden Club “adopted” the historic Ashland Train Station and Visitors Center five years ago. Heritage tourism and the conservation of historic structures are significant to the “Center of the Universe,” and the garden club volunteers have amended the soils, planted new trees and perennials, and an irrigation system through their Conservation and Beautification Committee. The plan now is to install handicapped seating, and planters for paved areas to create a comfortable, safe, and scenic place for their community. The garden club donates many hours to maintain this site, including picking up litter and cigarette butts. They expect to continue to provide a picturesque place in which to sit and watch the trains go by.

Since 2011, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided over $110,000 in 30 in Thirty Grants to 140 organizations throughout the state. This year, for the first time, we are awarding 45 grants because of the generosity of our partners at Altria, Keep America Beautiful, WestRock Foundation and Trex. Government, non-profit, civic and service organizations in Virginia were invited to apply for 30 in Thirty Grants for $500 to $1,000 telling how they are addressing these pressing issues:  Litter Prevention, Recycling, Cigarette Litter Prevention, and Community Beautification.