Swanton Middle School students Ava Keiser, Jalen Carrizales, Mason Hutchinson and Aurora Young planted a tree with Swanton Tree Commission members Jim Lammon, left, and Walt Lange at the school Friday.
Drew Stambaugh | Swanton Enterprise
Water and dirt are added to the recently placed tree on Friday at Swanton Middle School.
Drew Stambaugh | Swanton Enterprise
Swanton Tree Commission member Jim Lammon talks about the importance of cutting roots that had grown in a circle inside the pot.
Drew Stambaugh | Swanton Enterprise
SMS students get their hands dirty planting a tree on Arbor Day.
Drew Stambaugh | Swanton Enterprise
Arbor Day was recognized in Swanton Friday with a tree audit and a tree planting at a local school.
The morning started at Pilliod Park on Chestnut Street, with a large group of Swanton Middle School students working alongside Swanton Tree Commission members to perform a tree audit for Pilliod and Rotary Parks. They worked through a light rain to identify, measure, and determine a value for all the trees in these parks.
The result will be to determine the monetary input and value of the trees to the community. The audit showed a 10-year tree value of $74,693.
Later that morning, a new tree was planted at Swanton Middle School in celebration of Arbor Day and in support of the Swanton Tree Commission’s mission of managing the urban forest in the village.
Tree Commission members Walt Lange and Jim Lammon walked students through the process of planting a tree, noting the importance of each step. They got their hands dirty as they planted the Autumn Blaze maple in front of the school.
