Free tree seedlings for Byram residents this Saturday
Byram. The New Jersey Forest Service said the state needs more new trees than ever before after damage caused by hurricanes and several new invasive insects.
| 20 Apr 2021 | 05:06
Free tree seedlings will be available for Byram Township residents to pick up from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 24, by the playground at C.O. Johnson Park on Roseville Road.
The giveaway is part of the New Jersey Forest Service’s “Tree Recovery Campaign,” hosted by the township’s Environmental Commission in celebration of Arbor Day.
“The Environmental Commission is very pleased to offer these seedlings to our community members,” said Katie Parrish, commission chair. “Trees have many benefits, such as improving the visual appeal of a neighborhood or business district, increasing property values, reducing home cooling costs, removing air pollutants, and providing wildlife habitats.”
Residents are invited to pick up five tree seedlings, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Seedlings should be planted within two days after pick-up in order to prevent the roots from drying out. Residents will also receive a guide with instructions on to storing, caring for and planting the tree seedlings. The guides are designed to help residents choose the right spot on a property to plant each seedling, considering its full-grown size.
The original goal of the Tree Recovery Campaign — distributing more than 600,000 tree seedlings to New Jersey residents over the course of seven years — was met in 2019. However, with natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy, as well as damage caused by several new invasive insects, the state needs more new tree seedlings than ever before, according to the New Jersey Forest Service.
The program is a joint effort between Byram Township, the New Jersey Forest Service, New Jersey Soil Conservation Districts, the Arbor Day Foundation, iCIMS, FedEx, State Farm and International Paper.
Event organizers will be following New Jersey’s Covid safety recommendations. When picking up seedlings, residents are asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
For a list of all distribution locations across the state, visit forestry.nj.gov or facebook.com/newjerseyforests.
For more information, contact Byram Township Environmental Commission Secretary Donna Fett at 973-347-2500 ext. 138, or dfett@byramtwp.org.
“The Environmental Commission is very pleased to offer these seedlings to our community members. Trees have many benefits, such as improving the visual appeal of a neighborhood or business district, increasing property values, reducing home cooling costs, removing air pollutants, and providing wildlife habitats.” Katie Parrish, Byram Township Environmental Commission