TreeFest, an annual distribution of tree seedlings, will be held on Friday, January 22nd from 10am to 7pm and Saturday, January 23rd from 10am to 6pm (or until trees run out) in the JC Penney wing inside Independence Mall.
A poetry contest for schoolchildren in New Hanover County is being held, with the winner receiving a tree planted at their school in their honor. For details, click here.
Each year our community loses thousands of trees to disease, development, and storm events. Trees do much more than provide aesthetic benefits; they help improve our air and water quality, lower energy costs, and remove carbon dioxide from the air.
Local residents are invited to pick up 5 tree seedlings to take home and plant on their property. A suggested donation of $3 per household will help ensure that TreeFest will return next year. TreeFest is funded by the donations received from participants during the event.
Over 10,000 tree seedlings will be available this year. Tree species include: Bald cypress, Black gum, Black walnut, Cherrybark oak, Chinese chestnut, Eastern redbud, Flowering dogwood, Live oak, Longleaf pine, Overcup oak, Persimmon, Pond pine, Redbay, River birch, Southern crabapple, Southern red oak, Swamp chestnut oak, White oak and Willow oak. Please note: species availability is subject to change without notice and trees are available first come, first serve.
The trees are bare-root seedlings grown in Goldsboro at the NC Forest Service Nursery. They need to be kept moist and planted as soon as possible; ideally the same weekend as TreeFest. Winter is a great time to plant trees in our area.
Because the trees will live a very long life, a little planning at home before you pick up your trees can save you lots of time down the road. Consider what size tree will fit on your property, look for utility lines above ground, determine if any utility lines are below ground, and whether any buildings are nearby. There will be experts on hand to help you decide which tree will work best for your site, as well as how to take care of your tree.
TreeFest began in 1997, after Hurricanes Bertha and Fran destroyed many trees in the area. The TreeFest Committee organizes the event; members and sponsors include Progress Energy, North Carolina Forest Service, Keep America Beautiful of New Hanover County, New Hanover County Cooperative Extension, New Hanover County Parks Department, New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District, City of Wilmington, and Independence Mall.
To view and download a TreeFest flyer, click here.