More than 430 trees will be planted all over the city of Buffalo this Saturday for Re-Tree WNY’s tenth year of planting. Trained volunteers will represent 16 block clubs and organizations that applied for trees and supplies for the spring planting.
The biggest planting will be in the University Heights section of Buffalo, coordinated by Darren Cotton and Aaron Krolikowski. Their group, called Re-Tree the District, has set forth an ambitious plan to reforest the streets around the UB Main Street campus.
Approximately 170 trees will be planted there with a variety of species including Serviceberry, Kentucky Coffee, London Planetree, Honey Locust, Spring Snow Crabapple, Pink Flair Cherry, Bur Oak, Triumph Elm and Ivory Silk Lilac.
“This is a part of our goal of planting a total of 1,000 trees throughout the University District,” remarked Cotton. “By bringing together students and residents, we are not only planting trees, but building community.”
The trees are all being planted via the bare-root method, an innovation that makes it possible for Re-Tree volunteers to plant with everyday garden shovels. This way, almost any individual is able to plant a tree.
“Re-Tree WNY is back supplying trees this year thanks to the generosity of many dozens of donors who stepped up to help us,” said Paul D. Maurer, founder and chairman of the organization. “This planting will bring our total to 28,112 trees planted by our volunteers. We’re ever-so-close to the 30,000 goal we set in 2006!”
Any volunteers who would like to join in the planting should report to 147 Diefendorf Hall at the UB Main Street (South) Campus at 9 a.m. Saturday. Visit www.ourheights.org/retree for more info.
The trees will be off-loaded at the City of Buffalo Engineering Garage, 1120 Seneca St., from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday and all of the block clubs will report there to get their trees and supplies.
For more information about Re-Tree WNY, a program of the Buffalo Green Fund, Inc., visit www.re-treewny.org.
