Help A Tree Grow In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NJ -- If you've thought about planting a tree on your property, you will have a opportunity to get free seedlings to do so.

The free tree seedlings will be available to Manchester Township residents in April as part of the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign, which helps communities replace trees damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy, according to Manchester officials.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16, residents will be able to pick up tree seedlings at Town Hall (1 Colonial Dr.). They will be available on a first come, first served basis, and the seedlings will include 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, officials said.

The goal of the Tree Recovery Campaign is to distribute more than 500,000 tree seedlings to New Jersey residents over the next five years. In Manchester, it is a joint effort between the township, the New Jersey State Forest Service, New Jersey Soil Conservation Districts, Sustainable Jersey, Arbor Day Foundation, Brothers International, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Wyndham Vacation Resorts, and FedEx.

For a list of all distribution locations across the state, visit www.forestry.nj.gov or www.facebook.com/newjerseyforests. Please contact Principal Project Engineer Joe Veni of the Department of Public Works at 732-657-8121 with any questions.