Viewfinder: Somerset Raises Up a New Crop (of Trees)

Somerset Heights Elementary School in Mendota Heights got a virtual forest of new trees last week, some replacing old trees and others in brand new spots.

Somerset lost four ash trees which had stood in front of the oldest part of the school. The trees had grown too close to existing power lines and after having been trimmed, school officials elected to have them removed. They were replaced with four new crab-apple trees planted by school parents and volunteers.

While the adults were planting the new trees in the front of the school, Somerset students under the guidance of Tree Trust staff, were planting news trees in the back and on the sides of the elementary.

Tree Trust staff had earlier mapped the school grounds and determined the best places to plant the new trees.

Students learned how to first dig a proper sized hole for the new trees, then how to place them in the hole, file it with dirt and mulch and then give the trees lots of water to grow on.

The Somerset third- and fourth-graders, who have studied trees in class, helped younger "buddies" with the planting essentials.

The Somerset students planted 30 new trees.

"Karin (Nyhus-Halsey) was the leader of the whole project," said Somerset Principal Mary Bowman. "Without her this wouldn't have happened. And the Tree Trust volunteers were great."

Bowman thought Somerset students learned a lot from planting the new trees.

"I think they learned to be more appreciative of nature," Bowman said.