Free tree seedlings available for Beach Haven residents and property owners

As part of the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign, free tree seedlings will be available to Beach Haven residents and property owners beginning Wednesday, March 26. The program, which helps communities replace trees damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy, is a joint effort among the Beach Haven Public Works Department; New Jersey State Forestry Services’ Community Forestry Program; State Forest Nursery; New Jersey Soil Conservation Districts; Sustainable Jersey; and the Arbor Day Foundation. The goal of the program is to distribute more than 500,000 tree seedlings to New Jersey residents during the course of the next five years.

Photo via BuyLBI
Many trees on Long Beach Island have been
destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.

“It’s going to help replace a lot of landscape that was destroyed by Sandy,” said George Gilbert, superintendent of the Beach Haven Public Works Department. “There’s a limited amount of trees on the barrier island, as it is, and a lot of it did get wiped out. So this will help reestablish some plants.”

When appropriately planted and cared for, trees can add a positive feature to any community, Gilbert explained. They advance the image of a region, enhance property values, condense home cooling expenses, eliminate air contaminants and supply wildlife habitat, among many other benefits.

Beach Haven is expected to receive 1,000 seedlings, ranging in size from 2  to 7 feet high. The shipment should incorporate varying species, including bayberry, beach plum, black gum, chestnut oak, hackberry, loblolly pine, improved pitch pine, pitch pine, short leaf pine, swamp white oak, sycamore, tulip poplar, white ash, white oak and willow oak.

“I’m hoping to get at least 200 people interested so I don’t wind up with a pile of trees to plant myself,” Gilbert said with a laugh.

Residents will be able to pick up the seedlings, available on a first-come, first-served basis, at the borough emergency operation center, located at 420 Pelham Ave. Hours are Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., from Wednesday, March 26, through Thursday, April 17. Instructions on how to store, care for and plant the seedlings will be provided. The guide will also help individuals choose the correct spot for planting. To prevent the roots from drying out, residents are encouraged to plant the seedlings within two days after pickup.

To reserve seedlings, or for more information, contact the Beach Haven Public Works Department at 609-492-2525 or publicworks@beachhaven-nj.gov.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.