University of Maryland Extension is partnering with Maryland DNR Forest Service and the Wicomico and Dorchester County Forestry Boards to offer free trees in celebration of Earth Day and National Arbor Day. Free trees will be given to all in attendance, but special tree packets will be given to landowners wishing to plant trees near water. The Backyard Buffers Program is designed to assist homeowners (with less than 5 acres of land) who have a stream or other waterway on or adjacent to their property in order to create a streamside buffer of native trees and shrubs.
The Backyard Buffers Program provides a free “buffer in a bag” to help get homeowners started in buffering their streamside. The buffer in a bag includes 25 native tree and shrub bare-root seedlings, approximately 1 to 2 feet in height, of various species that are well suited to streamside conditions.
Pick up Location For Dorchester County Residents:
Date: Saturday, April 19, 2014
Time: 9:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Spocott Wind Mill, Route 343, Approx. 6 Miles West of Cambridge
Pick up Location For Wicomico County Residents:
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2014
Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm
Location: University of Maryland Extension Office, 28647 Old Quantico Road, Salisbury, MD
The Forestry Boards will be giving away trees to any resident who comes to the pickup sites, but Backyard Buffer trees will be reserved and distributed on a first come, first serve basis. The first 100 homeowners to register for each county will receive trees. Registration begins now! Contact 410-228-1861 (Dorchester County) or 410-543-1950 (Wicomico County) to sign up.
