Penn State Mont Alto professor Craig Houghton demonstrates proper tree planting techniques.
October was a big month for Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay tree plantings in Pennsylvania! The Alliance is wrapping up its October Proves Successful for ‘Trees for Tomorrow’ program in Franklin County, and helped coordinate volunteer plantings at six locations to plant over 800 new trees. The majority of these trees were 4-6 feet tall, meaning that they will have an immediate aesthetic and environmental impact in their communities. As they mature, these trees will provide wildlife habitat, soak up stormwater, reduce erosion, and provide shade and natural beauty. The Alliance has invested in trees throughout Franklin County because trees mean cleaner water not only for local streams, but also for everything downstream of them —including the Chesapeake Bay!Five of the plantings were organized in partnership with Senator Richard Alloway II (R-33) and took place October 10th. Approximately 100 volunteers joining the Alliance and the Senator for breakfast at Chambersburg Area Middle School South (CAMS South) where they learned the proper way to plant a tree. Volunteers then traveled to their assigned planting locations and started planting:

  • Renfrew Museum and Park, Waynesboro (75 trees)
  • Winebrenner Theological Seminary—Scotland Campus, Scotland (84 trees)
  • Mill Creek Acres Park, Chambersburg (20 trees)
  • Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County, Chambersburg (12 trees)
  • Rhodes Grove Camp and Conference Center, Greencastle (56 trees planted October 12th)

On October 17th, the Alliance led a volunteer planting at CAMS South that resulted in the planting of 560 native trees and shrubs! Over the next few years, the trees will form a visual and auditory buffer between the school’s athletic fields and Interstate 81. This will make sports games more enjoyable for students and their families, who often have a hard time hearing coach and referee calls over the highway noise. The new forest buffer will also serve as an outdoor classroom where students can learn about wildlife, stormwater pollution, plant identification, and more in the field. Middle school students work together to plant a tree at CAMS South.The CAMS South planting was made possible by the efforts of several dedicated partners. The CAMS South administrative and teaching staff recruited volunteers, the grounds staff dug the holes and moved trees, the Chambersburg Shade Tree Commission served as group leaders, and Bartlett Tree Experts donated mulch and the use of their watering truck. Over 100 students, parents, school staff, and community members came out to plant and help improve their community.Additionally, the Alliance and the Borough of Chambersburg have partnered to offer free trees to property owners in certain Chambersburg neighborhoods. These neighborhoods in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th wards were chosen because they have low tree cover, and can benefit from the many advantages of trees: beautiful neighborhoods, higher property values, attraction of new customers, and cleaner air and water. Property owners can apply online here. A member of the Chambersburg Shade Tree Commission will then visit the property to discuss species selection and planting location. If an agreement is reached, a landscaping contractor will deliver and plant the tree for free.

Funding for these efforts was generously provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Dominion Foundation, the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, and a donation from an anonymous foundation.