NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC – TreeFest, an annual distribution of tree seedlings, will be held Friday, January 19 and Saturday, January 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or until trees run out, inside Independence Mall in the JC Penney wing.

A variety of tree and grass seedlings, many of which are native, will be available to help residents increase the tree canopy and biodiversity in their yards. There is a limit of five trees and/or grasses per household.

 

TreeFest began in 1997, after hurricanes Bertha and Fran destroyed many trees in the area. The TreeFest Committee organizes the event; members and sponsors include: New Hanover County Parks and Gardens Department, New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District, North Carolina Forest Service, Keep New Hanover Beautiful, City of Wilmington, Wild Bird and Garden, UNCW Department of Environmental Sciences, and Independence Mall.

The trees and grasses are grown in Goldsboro, NC at the NC Forest Service Nursery. The committee encourages planting of the seedlings within a week of the event, noting that winter is a great time to plant trees and grasses in the New Hanover County area.

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