Volunteers to Plant 495 Trees at Sparta Training Area

Sparta, Illinois - (September 23, 2009) – Dozens of volunteers will join Trees Forever in planting nearly 500 new trees at the Illinois Army National Guard Sparta Training Area on Saturday, September 26. The tree planting event is part of National Public Lands Day.

Volunteers will plant trees in pre-dug holes, courtesy of Illinois Army National Guard members. They will then stake, water and mulch the newly planted trees. Some of the trees to be planted were specifically chosen for adaptability to wetland settings or for their pollination benefits.

Volunteer registration begins at 8:00 a.m. at the Sparta Training Area Armory building. The planting event will begin at 9:00 a.m. with a demonstration of proper tree planting techniques by Trees Forever staff. Volunteers should dress for outdoor work and bring their own gloves, sturdy shoes or boots, and mosquito spray. Open-toed shoes are not recommended. Lunch will be provided after the planting.

“We are very excited to be able to help plant hundreds of trees at the Sparta Training Area,” notes Shannon Ramsay, Trees Forever’s Founding President. “Trees are natural air conditioners and air purifiers, and they provide much needed pollen for bees and other beneficial insects in the area.”

Funding for this Trees Forever planting project comes from the National Environmental Education Foundation and Trees Forever members and donors. Toyota Motor Sales, USA, is the lead national sponsor for National Public Lands Day.

2009 marks the 16th year that National Public Lands Day (NPLD) has brought together thousands of volunteers across the nation to improve and restore public lands and facilities. It is the largest, single-day volunteer event benefiting public lands each year. Trees Forever is sponsoring another NPLD tree planting event at a tornado-ravaged county park near Cedar Rapids, Iowa on September 26.

Volunteers interested in helping with the tree replanting project should show up by 8:45 a.m. on the morning of the event. For more information, please call Debbie Fluegel, Trees Forever Field Coordinator, at 309-613-0095

# # #

Trees Forever is a nonprofit organization based in Marion, IA committed to planting trees, encouraging community involvement and stewardship, and caring for the environment. Programs focus on improving air and water quality, increasing wildlife habitat, providing substantial energy savings and beautifying our landscape. For more information visit www.treesforever.org or call 800-369-1269.