Georgetown Cub Scouts join CIB to plant trees at Poplar Thicket

Cub Scout Pack 95 of Georgetown paid it forward this holiday season, working with the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays to plant trees at the Marian R. Okie Memorial Wildlife Preserve at Poplar Thicket. Together with parents, staff and DCIB volunteers, the scouts planted saplings and learned the importance of native trees in providing habitat for native species in the Inland Bays watershed.

The Marian R. Okie Memorial Wildlife Preserve is on the north shore of Indian River Bay and is locally known as Poplar Thicket. The land was donated in fall 2008 to The Nature Conservancy by Austin "Pete" Okie and is now a state wildlife preserve, honoring his wishes that the area be maintained as a bird sanctuary. Located on Long Neck Road, the preserve contains 118 acres of forest, marshes, and wetlands and is open to the public.

This DCIB restoration project is a partnership with the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It aims to benefit wildlife species of conservation concern and, in particular, increase habitat for native birds. Bob Collins, project manager for the restoration, said, “Ten acres of fallow upland agricultural land will be planted with trees and shrubs, and plantings will be added to four additional acres. We really appreciate the help of the scouts on this project.”

The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays is a nonprofit organization established in 1994 to promote the wise use and enhancement of the Inland Bays and its watershed. With its many partners, the DCIB conducts public outreach and education, develops and implements restoration projects, encourages scientific inquiry and sponsors research. For more information, call Sally Boswell at 226-8105, or email outreach@inlandbays.org or, go to www.inlandbays.org.