Lewes Public Library Roots and Shoots Program celebrates Arbor Day
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day and the 50th anniversary of the Arbor Day Foundation, the City of Lewes collaborated with the Lewes Public Library’s Roots and Shoots Program and the state’s Urban Forestry Program April 30 to plant 25 native trees in George H.P. Smith Park.
Teens in the Roots and Shoots Program were joined by members of their families and other volunteers to learn about how to properly plant and maintain trees, and why the trees were important to the area.
All 25 trees are species native to Delaware and will provide various ecological benefits to the park. While some, like bald cypress and black willow, will mitigate some flooding that limits certain areas of the park from time to time, other trees should provide shade for reprieve on particularly hot or bright days. Taryn Davidson, urban forester with the Delaware Forest Service, believes many of the park’s visitors will notice the benefits as the trees grow and mature.
Janet Reeves, Lewes’ parks and marina administrator, said the day came about as a result of cooperation among the city, state, library and volunteers. She believes the event was very successful and the trees are a valuable addition to the park. The ground around where the bald cypress took root was noticeably more saturated in comparison to the rest of the park, and the other species planted will increase the oxygen and add further support to the park’s ecological system.
Emily Ellinger, Lewes library’s teen services coordinator, said the trees will remain in place for the duration of their natural lives, with watering and upkeep planned to support their growth. One thing unique for volunteers who planted the trees is they will have a Tree ID tag number associated with their tree to allow them to track their particular root to see how it shoots. The park’s newest residents also have their roots in the global effort to plant and care for more trees, called Trees for Jane. The international grassroots campaign is inspired by Dr. Jane Goodall and aligns with the United Nations’ Decade on Ecosystem Restoration initiative and the Trillion Tree Campaign mission of planting 1 trillion trees worldwide by 2030.
For more information on what trees may work best on your property, go to dda.delaware.gov/forestry. Davidson is also available via email at taryn.davidson@delaware.gov or at 302-659-6704. To find out more about Trees for Jane, go to treesforjane.org.
For more information on the Lewes library, its services and programs, go to lewes.lib.de.us.
