SAVE OUR FOREST

To improve, enhance, and restore our community through the reestablishment of trees and community beautification projects.

The original “Save the Oaks” group was formed in  1972 and reenergized in 1992 to protect oaks marked for destruction on Live Oak Park Road in Fallbrook.  In order to broaden its scope, the group renamed itself  “Save Our Forest,” and became a branch of the Fallbrook Land Conservancy in 1993. 

SOF has a wide variety of ongoing projects and programs including reforesting Fallbrook Land Conservancy preserves, the Downtown Treescape project, on-going maintenance of downtown trees, Adopt-a-Tree and Adopt-a-Road programs, educational programs, workshops, and cooperating with the FLC and other environmental agencies with their programs and projects.

One of our more well known projects is our Environmental Education program, which helps our younger generation learn the importance of restoring and maintaining our ecosystems. You can learn more about this program on our Environmental Education page.

Meetings:

The regular meeting for Save Our Forest is on the fourth Monday of the month 6:00 p.m. at the Palomares House.    

Volunteer Work Parties:

The success Save Our Forest rests entirely on its enthusiastic and committed volunteers. New volunteers are always welcome! All ages and experience levels are helpful.

Save Our Forest work parties meet on the third Wednesday and the last Sunday of the month at 8:30 a.m. The groups meet at Vince Ross Village Square (corner of Main Avenue. & Alvarado) and work for 2 hours. Bring a shovel, hand clippers, and loppers, if possible. Other supplies will be provided. People interested in the community work of maintaining downtown trees will be greeted enthusiastically.

Accomplishments

  • Community Tree Planting with over 3000 trees planted to date!

  • Dedicated Bench Installations

  • Dedicated Tree Plaques

  • Installation of “Roots” metal sculpture on Hawthorne Street

  • Gold Leaf Award from the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture

  • Recognition by National Arbor Day Foundation

  • Produced "The Necklace of Leaves" educational video

  • Produced “Fallbrook: A Village of Trees and Tree Heroes” video

  • Established, maintain, and invest a trust fund to provide financial support for Save Our Forest activities

 SOF Projects & Programs

  • We work with local businesses and organizations to offer community clean-up events and to implement projects that beautify our community through planting, education, and removal of non-native species. Some of our projects include the corner of Main Avenue and Fallbrook Street, at the 7-11 and the corner of Mission Road and Brandon Street, at Fallbrook Café. We are thankful for the generosity of the business owners and volunteers who make these projects possible.

  • For the past several years Save Our Forest has been growing trees and plants in its own nursery. They are used to revegetate the Creekside Conservation area and several Fallbrook Land Conservancy preserves including Bonsall, Dinwiddie, Engel, Heller’s Bend, Los Jilgueros and Palomares Park. Plants from the nursery are also used for  educational programs with local schools.

  • Save Our Forest is responsible for the coordination, maintenance, and care of Fallbrook’s downtown flowerpot project. The project aims to harmoniously combine urban greening efforts with visual value that attract residents and visitors to explore our downtown and fall in love with Fallbrook. 

    We are thankful to the business owners who have volunteered to care for potted plants. Please contact us if you are interested in having a potted plant at your business.

    A resting place for all, Fallbrook’s downtown is home to benches placed in honor of loved ones and community leaders. Save Our Forest coordinates the downtown bench project through the repair, maintenance, and placement of benches. Please let us know if you are interested in sponsoring a bench to commemorate someone special in your life.


  • The Fallbrook treescape project aims to enhance the economic and aesthetic value of our community, while positively impacting the environment through urban greening practices. The treescape project has resulted in the planting and ongoing care of more than 3,000 trees since its beginning in 1995. We have secured more than $278,000 in grant funds that have gone directly back into the community through tree planting efforts. Tree planting began in downtown Fallbrook and has expanded throughout the community, including Main Avenue, many side streets, and all segments of Mission Road.

  • The tree adoption program is essential to ensuring proper maintenance of our community trees. Expenses such as pruning, fertilizing, insect control, and watering are covered by the generous donors who have adopted a tree. 

    Please contact us if you are interested in adopting a tree! For as little as $200, you can help keep our community forest healthy.


  • Through the generosity of a bequest by Dawne and Mickey McCullough, Save Our Forest was able to open a non-endowed account at Legacy Endowment Community Foundation. This fund provides a source of income for maintenance of our community treescape, beautification projects, and educational programs. Because this fund is non-endowed, Save Our Forest can elect to withdraw funds at any time or allow the interest to accrue, compounding our principal balance.  

    Donations for this fund, big or small, are critical to helping it grow into a long-term, sustainable funding source for Save Our Forest. Please let us know if you are interested in learning more about how you can make a lasting impact.

    Click here to read more about our Legacy Giving.


Necklace of Leaves.

This video describes how SOF planned, implemented, and maintains a treescape spanning the whole town and how volunteers could do the same in any community.

Save Our Forests with us.

If you would like to volunteer with SOF, or would like to inquire about our Adopt-a-Tree program, please fill out form below and submit with your interests.