Tree for Every Delawarean Initiative giveaway set Oct. 11

The Sussex Conservation District will host its third annual native tree giveaway from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Vanderwende-Evans Conservation Center, 23818 Shortly Road, Georgetown.

The event will be held rain or shine, and trees will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

SCD will have 500 trees available as part of the Tree for Every Delawarean Initiative, with a limit of one tree per person.

Nine tree species will be available. Red maple and white oak will be available in both 1- and 3-gallon sizes. Other 3-gallon species are eastern redbud, persimmon, red cedar, river birch, southern magnolia, sweetbay magnolia and white dogwood.

Each tree will have a tag with a QR code that links to the TEDI Tracker, where recipients are encouraged to register their tree. Both organized and independent tree plantings across the state are documented on the tracker. To date, more than 350,000 trees have been planted through this initiative.

“We’re thrilled to host this event for the third year in a row,” said Jessica Watson, SCD sediment and stormwater program manager. “Native trees are vital to Delaware’s environmental resilience, providing essential benefits such as shade, wildlife habitat, temperature regulation, air-quality improvement and stormwater runoff mitigation. I urge all Sussex County residents to participate in this initiative and help us build a more sustainable future.”

The Tree for Every Delawarean Initiative is a partnership that includes the Urban and Community Forestry program in the Department of Agriculture’s Delaware Forest Service, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy, and other stakeholders.

Attendees are encouraged to visit the TEDI website for information on how to select, plant and care for their trees.

For more information, go to de.gov/tedi and sussexconservation.org.