NEWS RELEASE

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 114, Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Christina Novak
DCNR Press Secretary
(717) 772-9101

TREEVITALIZE TO TEACH CITIZENS HOW TO PLANT AND CARE FOR TREES

HARRISBURG (April 20, 2005) — TreeVitalize, a partnership to restore tree cover in the five-county region in Southeastern Pennsylvania, will be offering classes this spring to educate residents about planting and caring for trees as early as April 27.

The training course is designed for lay people and experts alike, and will offer nine or 12 hours of classroom and field training covering: tree biology; urban stresses; tree identification; pruning; root care; fundraising; media outreach; volunteer management and working with local governments.

“We know that the TreeVitalize movement will be powered by volunteers who are passionate about restoring tree cover in the five-county region, educated about how to properly plant and take care of trees, and inspired to become advocates with their neighbors in their communities,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said.

DCNR spearheads the TreeVitalize project with many public and private partners. The training was designed and is being taught by staff from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and Penn State Cooperative Extension.

Students are expected to volunteer time to community tree planting projects in exchange for training. Groups also may qualify for free or discounted trees upon completing the program.

TreeVitalize aims to educate as many as 2,000 citizens in tree planting and care over the next three years. The $8 million program also has a goal of planting more than 20,000 shade trees in neighborhoods in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

DCNR oversees TreeVitalize and has partnered with: the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); Aqua Pennsylvania; Philadelphia Eagles; PECO, an Exelon Co.; U.S. Forest Service; Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; Morris Arboretum; William Penn Foundation; Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association; and county and local governments.

Registration for all classes is required. Classes are open to all residents of the five county region. For more information about the classes, contact Mindy Maslin at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society at (215) 988-8844 or register online at www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org.

For more information on TreeVitalize visit www.treevitalize.net.

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Editor’s Note: Attached is the schedule of spring classes. A class is being planned in Delaware County for the fall.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 100 N. 5th Street, 5th Floor
12 Hour Class: April 27, May 4, May 11 5:45 - 8:45 p.m., May 7 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Montgomery County

Curtis Arboretum, Greenwood Ave., Wyncote, Cheltenham Township
Nine hour class: May 19, 26 and June 1 from 6 - 9 p.m.

Bucks County

Silver Lake Nature Center, 1306 Bath Road, Bristol Township
Nine hour class: June 16, 23 and 30 6 - 9 p.m.

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2005