Plant A Tree In Brick Thanks To Seedlings Giveaway

BRICK, NJ -- If you've been thinking about adding a tree to your yard, but were reluctant to spend the money to buy one, there's a opportunity coming to get a free seedling.

Free tree seedlings are being made available to Brick residents this spring as part of the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign. The goal of the campaign is to help communities replace trees damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.

The Brick Township Shade Tree Commission, along with the Environmental Commission, will make the seedlings available to interested residents on two occasions.

On Saturday, April 16, seedlings will be available as part of the 6th Annual Brick Township Green Fair at Brick Township High School on Chambers Bridge Road. The Green Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Friday, April 29, which also is Arbor Day, seedlings will be available from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Drum Point Sports Complex at the corner of Drum Point Road and Brick Boulevard.

Seedlings will be available on a first come, first served basis and will come with instructions on how to store, care for, and plant them. The guides help residents choose the right place on a property to plant a tree while keeping in mind the tree’s full-grown size in the future.

Residents should plant the seedlings within two days after pick-up in order to prevent the roots from drying out.

“These seedlings provide a wonderful opportunity for residents to replace lost or damaged trees with beautiful,
native species that will improve the environment and enhance the aesthetic beauty of Brick Township,”
Mayor John Ducey said. “We are grateful to the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign for making this opportunity
available to our residents.”

As part of its Arbor Day celebration, the Shade Tree Commission is encouraging residents to take a photo of
the seedlings being planted and email the photo, along with the neighborhood or section of town, to
shadetree@bricktownship.net. The photos will be posted to the township Facebook site beginning Arbor Day.

More than 500,000 tree seedlings are to be distributed to New Jersey residents over the next five years, the Tree Recovery Campaign said.

For questions regarding tree distribution please contact Alida Desiderio at 732-262-1140. For information on the Brick Township Green Fair please contact Keith Rella at 732-262-1050.