On October 22, 2013 the Shepherdstown
Community Club, along with students and staff from
Shepherdstown Middle School, planted 24 flowering trees at
Morgan’s Grove Park in Shepherdstown, WV. The trees –
redbuds, flowering dogwoods, and serviceberries – will
provide habitat and food for wildlife, block the view of
neighboring facilities, and add aesthetic value to the park.
15 students and 4 teachers from
Shepherdstown Middle School volunteered to help with the
project. The students, in addition to learning about the
benefits of trees and planting trees, also took data
measurements on the trees for a school assignment. They
measured the height of the trees, species, DBH, and
location. They plan on bringing the students back in the
future to look at how the trees have grown over time. The
tree planting was a featured story in the October 25th
issue of the Shepherdstown Chronicle, a local newspaper.
The Project Leader and Shepherdstown
Community Club board member Art Wineburg said “all the
participants enjoyed the occasion, particularly learning how
to plant trees properly. For me, I most enjoyed watching
the students planting the trees, ensuring that they were in
the holes correctly. I can see nothing to do better. The WV
Project CommuniTree organization representatives were
magnificent – they were always available to answer questions
and give advice, and they had the delivery of the trees and
associated supplies and the planting event itself well
organized and managed. Our group was challenged to plant
these trees correctly and the challenge continues as we try
to ensure the trees thrive.”