Volunteers Needed To Help Plant Trees At Farm For Arbor Day

HARVE DE GRACE, MD — Volunteers are needed to help plant approximately 130 trees at Swan Harbor Farm on April 3 in celebration of Arbor Day. Participants will receive a free native tree to take home with them.

Families, individuals, civic organizations, school groups and Scouts are encouraged to help out, officials noted.

This will be the 21st Arbor Day celebration organized by Harford County to plant native trees throughout the county. Since the celebrations began in 2003, Harford has planted more than 33,000 native trees, including red maple, tulip poplar, white oak, black walnut, eastern red cedar and redbud.

“Planting trees not only benefits the environment but our neighborhoods and future generations as well. Harford County’s Arbor Day event is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together, enjoy quality time outdoors and demonstrate a shared commitment to preserving our green spaces,” Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly said. “I invite everyone to join us for this annual celebration. It’s fun, educational and a meaningful way to give back to our community.”

Participants should bring a hammer, shovel and work gloves, if they have them, and arrive at 9:30 a.m. at Swan Harbor Farm, located at 401 Oakington Road in Havre de Grace. Tree planting will begin at 10 a.m. and is expected to last two to three hours.

The event also will feature demonstrations from local environmental organizations. The free native tree will be provided courtesy of the Forest Conservancy District Board of Harford County, an advocacy group that promotes stewardship, conservation and sustainable use of Maryland’s forest resources.

The celebration will include the presentation of the Arbor Day Foundation’s National Arbor Day Tree City USA Award to Harford County government. The award, which Harford will be presented for the 23rd time, recognizes the work of elected officials, staff and citizens who plant and care for the community forest, benefiting the environment and the economy.