Spotlight on Grace Manning, Trees Atlanta, Beltline Arboretum Sr. Manager

Grace Manning became interested in her field of work by “sheer luck.” Now, she oversees the management of 50 acres of linear greenspace along 11 miles of the Atlanta Beltline corridor known as the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum. 

Her journey started as an undergrad at the University of Georgia, when Manning took a plant taxonomy course as a random elective. She ended up loving the class so much that she chose to major in the subject. 

“I found it completely fascinating,” she said. “It was so fun to me when I stumbled upon something during a walk and was like, ‘hey, I know that!’ Those moments led me deeper into the study.” 

Manning began her career at Trees Atlanta as a seasonal employee and found working on the Beltline to be special. 

“People enjoying the Beltline are very friendly and are delighted to find so many native plants and trees on the trail,” she said. “They want to know more. Being able to be– quite literally– in the weeds and watch the interactions and connectivity of plants and people in an urban setting is really interesting.” 

Connecting with the Beltline’s large number of visitors adds to this feeling. She often talks to people along the corridor about the advantages certain native plants can have in their own yards, such as increasing shade and lowering electricity bills. 

“That’s the most exciting part,” she said. “You get to do something [that] so many people get to see or experience. There’s a lot of different levels you can be involved in conservation, and it’s rewarding to help people start their own actions in a way they feel passionate about.” 

As new segments of the trail are constructed, the Trees Atlanta planting team installs the Beltline Arboretum. After two years, Manning's team takes over its long-term maintenance, including weeding, tree care, new plantings, and beautification projects. She manages three teams on different areas of the trail, and that number will soon grow. 

She says looking after the arboretum is extra meaningful because of how much it will benefit and educate future generations. 

“Kids are amazing in their intense curiosity,” she said. “They are budding land stewards, and they see the future so brightly. We need the younger generation to be a part of the conservation effort now and into the future. We can plant trees today all we want, but we need them to make sure older trees are protected and that new ones grow old.”  

Forestry has traditionally been a male-dominated field, but that’s changing. Manning has learned that being confident enough to show her expertise is important, which can be particularly hard for an introvert but something her public-facing job is helping to overcome. She also values that she collaborates with so many other women in her role, including her coworkers at Trees Atlanta, the Beltline, and many partner organizations. 

The overarching goal of the Beltline Arboretum is to inspire and inform the community. Manning loves to watch this happen passively when people pause to read signage on the trail, but residents can also engage deeper through volunteer projects, tours, and camps. Visit treesatlanta.org/get-involved to learn more.