The Pennsylvania Environmental Council in partnership with the Lands at Hillside Farms coordinated a streamside tree planting project at the Lands at Hillside Farm in Trucksville on April 25th, 2008.
The tree planting was an implementation project of the Wyoming Valley Rivers Conservation Plan that was prepared by PEC in 2008. The tree planting has been made possible by funding provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The tree planting project is being conducted along the banks of the Huntsville Creek as it flows through the Lands at Hillside Farms. The purpose of the tree planting is to reduce stream bank erosion, improve water quality and to improve wildlife habitat.
Volunteers for the planting included students from the Wyoming Valley Montessori School, Lehman-Jackson Elementary, and Abington Heights Middle School. Vinnie Cotrone of the Penn State Cooperative Extension gave an educational talk to the students explaining to them the importance of stream bank stabilization, the reduction of stream bank erosion and the improvement of water quality along with information on the native species of trees that they would be planting, how to plant the trees properly and how to maintain them. The students planted 10 trees, including, Red Maple, Sycamore and Oak Trees, along the banks of the Huntsville Creek.
Food donations for the volunteers were graciously donated by Sheetz, Rte. 309, Dallas and the students were served ice cream from the Hillside Dairy.
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council would like to thank everyone involved in this very worthwhile project.