West Virginia Grove

Governor Declares April Arbor Month

Communities throughout West Virginia hold celebrations

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – By official proclamation, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin designated April to be Arbor Month throughout the state of West Virginia.

“West Virginians value trees and forests,” Gov. Tomblin said.  “Our 12 million acres of forestland provide clean air and water, beautify our landscape, provide shelter and food for our wildlife and support employment for thousands of workers.” 

West Virginia’s official Arbor Day is the second Friday of April, April 13 this year.  However, celebrations are scheduled throughout the month in communities all across the state. 

Certified Tree City USA communities will hold Arbor Day celebrations, including

• April 13:  Huntington, Williamstown and Petersburg
• April 17:  Bluefield
• April 19:  Hinton, Ronceverte and Lewisburg
• April 27:  Elkins, Parkersburg and Summersville
• April 28:  Harpers Ferry
• May 2:  Follansbee
• May 4:  Charles Town

Several facilities, including the Veterans Administration Hospital in Martinsburg, have events planned as well. 

National Arbor Day is the last Friday of April, April 27 this year.  Many states observe Arbor Day on different dates according to the best tree-planting times.   

For more information about Arbor Day and Arbor Month, contact Urban and Community Forestry Program Coordinator Bob Hannah at 304-825-6983 or visit the Division of Forestry’s website, www.wvforestry.com.

Upcoming Tree Plantings:

Capon Bridge Middle School-April 18th

East Hardy Middle School-April 18th

Wildwood Middle School-April 19th

Romney-April 23rd, 9AM-12:30; The Potomac Center (1 Blue Street)

Paw Paw K-12 School-April 25th

Boydsville Mansion, Martinsburg-April 28th

Route 9 Bike Path-April 28th

Moorefield Elementary Schoot-April 29th

**If you want additional information on any of the above Arbor Days or Tree Planting Events, contact me at Jessica.R.Wise@wv.gov).

Tree planting aided with CTree

New program hopes to reinvigorate CommuniTree project in Eastern Panhandle

January 17, 2012

By John McVey, Journal staff writer , journal-news.net

MARTINSBURG - In an effort to reinvigorate the West Virginia CommuniTree project in the Eastern Panhandle, a new program has been instituted - CTree kits.

"This is a new approach to make it as easy as possible for groups interested in organizing a tree planting," Tanner Haid, urban forestry coordinator for the Cacapon Institute, said in a recent telephone interview.

The kits include trees in a variety of species and stock sizes for shade, reforestation, riparian buffers and other uses; tree tubes or cages to protect the trees from deer; and mulch to foster good root growth.

Groups will get technical assistance for their projects from CommuniTree partners: West Virginia Division of Forestry, West Virginia Conservation Agency, Cacapon Institute and West Virginia Division of Highways.

The first step is for groups, agencies or individuals to get a CTree grant application by going to www.cacaponinstitute.com/Forestry/CTree.htm.

More information is available by contacting Haid at thaid@cacaponinstitute.org or at 304-668-5027.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 15.

"Any group whatsoever is welcome, especially watershed groups," Haid said. "They just need a solid proposal, a solid plan."

Winners of the CTree kits will be determined through a competitive application process. Application requirements are a cover letter, proposal, site checklist and tree maintenance form.

Applicants will be notified of their status by March 1.

Planting projects will be done throughout the greater, eight-county Eastern Panhandle and must be done on public lands.

There are more than 150 sites that have been identified as potential planting locations along W.Va. 9 in Berkeley and Jefferson counties; along Corridor H; in state, county and municipal parks; and on school grounds throughout the region.

The CTree kits are funded through a U.S. Forest Service Urban Tree Canopy Assessment and Enhancement program grant.

"There are two aspects to the program," Haid explained. "Volunteerism and education. And not only educating why, but the proper way to plant trees and take care of them and the benefits of doing so."