“Bringing Bark to South Raleigh” was a tree planting dream turned reality. On Saturday, April 21, over forty community volunteers participated in this CommuniTree planting on South Raleigh Street in Martinsburg behind the high school football stadium.
The volunteers included 28 adults and 15 youth, mainly from Martinsburg High School FFA. Other volunteers included RotarACT students from Blue Ridge Community & Technical College, garden club members, city residents, and public works department and Shade Tree Commission members.
There were also several volunteers in attendance that purchased trees through Cacapon Institute’s “Your Community BMP” program this spring. Sixteen trees were planted, including American hornbeams, sweetbay magnolias, and hawthorns.
Tanner Haid, Urban Watershed Forester for Cacapon Institute, led the educational component on planting day, teaching all of the volunteers how to properly plant trees. Tanner answered questions and engaged the volunteers in a hands-on training that included how to plant, stake, and mulch the trees. Once all of the trees were planted, most of the volunteers went home.
However, some of the RotarACT club members provided assistance to the “Your Community BMP” recipients and helped them plant their trees on their private property. The trees will be maintained by the Martinsburg High School FFA students.
The Shade Tree Commission has provided watering jugs for their use. This was the Shade Tree Commission’s 2nd CommuniTree planting, the first being in fall 2017.
“It is truly a magical sight to behold people of all ages coming together to “Build Communities from the Roots Up!”
— Mary Lewis, Project Leader
