Silver Bay seeks volunteer tree stewards
May 09, 2019 07:01AM ● By Editor
By Teri Cadeau of the Lake County News Chronicle - May 9, 2019
Residents of Silver Bay have an upcoming opportunity to learn more about the science of tree planting and stewardship.
The city of Silver Bay is the recipient of a $35,000 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Forestry grant to plant 200 trees. The majority will be planted along Outer Drive as part of the city's Outer Drive gateway improvement project, while the remaining trees will be planted in the boulevards throughout the city.
The city is seeking volunteers who have an interest in becoming tree stewards to both assist in planting and caring for the trees.
"It's great for folks who are interested in trees and like just being outside and being active, but who also want more of the science behind the work and to be just a little bit more engaged," said Valerie McClannahan, urban and community forestry coordinator for the DNR.
The tree stewardship program started several years ago as a citizen pruner program in Rochester, Minn. McClannahan said the idea of the program is to train volunteers in tree planting and care basics so that the city has more eyes and hands on the trees.
"So, we're training citizens in things like small tree structural pruning, so that way the city staff can focus on things that require greater technical expertise or things that have more risk involved," McClannahan said.
Anyone interested in helping with the planting portion of the program is encouraged to attend the upcoming tree stewardship training sessions presented by the DNR and the University of Minnesota on May 14 and 16 from 4-6 p.m. at Silver Bay Reunion Hall, 97 Outer Drive.
RSVP by May 10 by contacting City Hall at 218-226-4408 or [email protected].
