Southern Middle Students Plant 280 Trees in Galesville Park

Southern Middle School students were busy on Friday planting more than 200 trees.

About 50 seventh-grade students from Southern Middle School planted approximately 280 trees on a half-acre in Galesville Park. According to Joe Ports, a restoration coordinator, the goal of the project was to transform some un-utilized turf grass into a forested buffer to protect the nearby Lerch Creek that is a tributary of the West River.

The tree-planting project was funded by the Governor's Stream Challenge—an effort to get students involved in the restoration of forested buffers throughout the state.

Before the project, Ports went to Southern Middle to talk to students about what a watershed is and how forested buffers help the watershed and the Chesapeake Bay.

“Forested buffers filter polluted water before it runs into the bay and provides great habitat for wildlife,” Ports said.

The students planted a wide array of tree species including four varieties of oak trees, bald cypress, and red bud; along with some edible plants such as persimmons, paw paw, elderberry and hazelnuts.

From talking with the students, Ports said they all seemed to enjoy the project and planned to plant more trees in the future.

Do you have an idea for a project? The Stream Challenge is now accepting proposals—due by close of business on May 30. Review the RFP and contact Gabe Cohee (gcohee@dnr.state.md.us) for more information.