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Agnes Scott Arboretum

Woodruff Quad

Agnes Scott College sits on 100 acres within the City of Decatur located just six miles northeast of Atlanta, the ‘City in a Forest’. With a managed tree canopy of over 50%, Agnes Scott knows the importance trees play in carbon sequestration, creating a sense of place, and ecosystem benefits, that all tie back to our mission as a liberal arts institution. 

Agnes Scott has many planning and management tools, engagement and educational opportunities, projects and programs and certifications that support the continued care and management of our natural resources. Check out all the resources and ways to engage.

Aerial view of Main Hall and surrounding tree canopy - fall colors in the morning light

Arboretum Tree Walk

Take our self-guided tour to learn about trees from a historical, ecological, humanities and interdisciplinary perspective. Click on the "Tree Walk" option above to access the map.

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White Ash tree in summer with bright green leaves

"The Battle of Decatur White Ash" (Fraxinus americana) was 10 years old when the Civil War Battle of Decatur was fought. "Although the young tree survived the fighting, human casualties in the Battle of Atlanta and Battle of Decatur totaled more than 9,000. Union entrenchments ran along a ridge where Agnes Scott Hall (Main Hall) and Rebekah Hall now stands; this ridge is approximately 260 feet south of the white ash." - Georgia Forestry Magazine, Spring 1996, pg. 6-7

Incense Cedar near sidewalk and S. Candler St

"The incense-cedar (Libocedrus decurrens) is of particular interest because of its age and origin...determined to be 162 years [in 1996]...noted that the species is native to the Western United States - from Oregon to Nevada and into southern California and the Baja peninsula. The fact that this tree was brought to Decatur and planted decades before the Civil War adds a mystique to the impressive specimen...The important point is that it was planted thousands of miles from its native range..by someone with an affinity for this imposing tree that is now 70 feet tall and exceeds 27 inches in diameter." - Georgia Forestry Magazine, Spring 1996, pg. 6-7

By the Numbers

acres of campus
trees on campus
tree canopy
as a Tree Campus USA
of 32 native oaks on campus
level accredited ArbNet arboretum
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