Lehigh’s hilly campus has long been noted for its stately trees, which can be traced back to the efforts of the university’s fifth president, Henry Sturgis Drinker, an 1871 graduate. Drinker, who was trained as an engineer, had a deep interest in forestry. He was moved by the growing blight of the majestic chestnut trees that dotted Lehigh’s campus when he was president in 1905, and he authorized funds for the reforestation of Packer Campus and Sayre Park.

Lehigh remains a good steward of Drinker’s vision, preserving the lush landscape that complements its neo-gothic architecture. Unseasonably brutal weather conditions in the autumns of 2011 and 2012 (Hurricane Sandy) toppled several trees. They were quickly replaced, although the young trees may require decades of growth before they reach their predecessors’ stature.

The university has included active forest management in its long-range sustainability planning, ensuring that the aesthetic appeal of a verdant campus lives on.