Volunteers Needed To Plant Trees on September 17 at Blackbird State Forest, Enhancing the Chesapeake Bay
News | Urban and Community Forestry | Date Posted: Wednesday, September 7, 2022
News | Urban and Community Forestry | Date Posted: Wednesday, September 7, 2022
TOWNSEND, Del. (September 7, 2022) – Volunteers are needed to plant 2,000 hardwood seedlings along the Cypress Branch at Blackbird State Forest on Saturday, September 17 to provide scenic beauty, enhance wildlife habitat, fight invasive species, and improve water quality in the critical Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
State Forester Michael Valenti said, “Planting trees is a great way to improve the environment and enhance air quality. Planting 2,000 hardwood seedlings near the Cypress Branch gives an added bonus of water quality protection and seed production that benefits local wildlife including wild turkeys. We’re looking for enthusiastic individuals and families to help us honor the bicentennial of Harriet Tubman’s birth by planting tree seedlings in an area that is part of the Underground Railroad Historic Byway in Delaware.”
Pre-registration is required for the tree planting being held on Saturday, September 17, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Blackbird State Forest’s Naudain Tract, 2076 Harvey Straughn Road, Townsend, Delaware 19734. This tree planting is a “rain or shine” event. Equipment, including shovels, will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather – wear boots or other work shoes, heavy-duty gloves and hats and bring insect repellent and sunscreen if needed.
“We know based on historic documentation that Harriet Tubman passed through the Blackbird area. This is why Blackbird has been considered an evocative landscape along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. Having a tree planting at Blackbird State Forest reminds us of the historic contribution that Harriet and others made to help freedom seekers through the Blackbird area,” said Delaware Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forester Kesha Braunskill. “Planting trees also is significant in building our tree canopy. Additionally, we want to remind Delaware residents that the Urban and Community Forestry Program is a resource in towns, neighborhoods, and communities with technical and financial tree projects.”
Blackbird State Forest covers nearly 6,000 acres in southern New Castle County and is a stop on the historic Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. The tree planting is part of events to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s birth in 1822. The project is funded by the U.S. Forest Service and its Chesapeake Bay Program and the Delaware Forest Service and its Urban and Community Program.
Directions to the Blackbird Forest Tree Planting Site
From the NORTH:
From the SOUTH:
For more information on the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Tree Planting and to pre-register, visit https://de.gov/treeevents.
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Related Topics: Bicentennial, Blackbird State Forest, Delaware, Delaware State Forest, Harriet Tubman, Townsend, tree planting
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
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News | Urban and Community Forestry | Date Posted: Wednesday, September 7, 2022
TOWNSEND, Del. (September 7, 2022) – Volunteers are needed to plant 2,000 hardwood seedlings along the Cypress Branch at Blackbird State Forest on Saturday, September 17 to provide scenic beauty, enhance wildlife habitat, fight invasive species, and improve water quality in the critical Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
State Forester Michael Valenti said, “Planting trees is a great way to improve the environment and enhance air quality. Planting 2,000 hardwood seedlings near the Cypress Branch gives an added bonus of water quality protection and seed production that benefits local wildlife including wild turkeys. We’re looking for enthusiastic individuals and families to help us honor the bicentennial of Harriet Tubman’s birth by planting tree seedlings in an area that is part of the Underground Railroad Historic Byway in Delaware.”
Pre-registration is required for the tree planting being held on Saturday, September 17, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Blackbird State Forest’s Naudain Tract, 2076 Harvey Straughn Road, Townsend, Delaware 19734. This tree planting is a “rain or shine” event. Equipment, including shovels, will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather – wear boots or other work shoes, heavy-duty gloves and hats and bring insect repellent and sunscreen if needed.
“We know based on historic documentation that Harriet Tubman passed through the Blackbird area. This is why Blackbird has been considered an evocative landscape along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. Having a tree planting at Blackbird State Forest reminds us of the historic contribution that Harriet and others made to help freedom seekers through the Blackbird area,” said Delaware Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forester Kesha Braunskill. “Planting trees also is significant in building our tree canopy. Additionally, we want to remind Delaware residents that the Urban and Community Forestry Program is a resource in towns, neighborhoods, and communities with technical and financial tree projects.”
Blackbird State Forest covers nearly 6,000 acres in southern New Castle County and is a stop on the historic Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. The tree planting is part of events to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s birth in 1822. The project is funded by the U.S. Forest Service and its Chesapeake Bay Program and the Delaware Forest Service and its Urban and Community Program.
Directions to the Blackbird Forest Tree Planting Site
From the NORTH:
From the SOUTH:
For more information on the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Tree Planting and to pre-register, visit https://de.gov/treeevents.
###
Related Topics: Bicentennial, Blackbird State Forest, Delaware, Delaware State Forest, Harriet Tubman, Townsend, tree planting
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.