The AISWCD Forestry Committee and Extension 4-H continued their tree planting partnership this spring. Forty-Five Soil and Water Conservation Districts and local Extension offices across the state participated in year five of the joint tree planting project utilizing 4-H youth at the local level to do the actual planting.
The potted four-foot-tall RPM Oak trees for the project were purchased from Forrest Keeling Nursery in Elsberry, Missouri. A total of 1125 trees were planted creating oak savannas across the state. Forty-five participating districts received 25 oak trees consisting of: 10- White Oak, 10- Bur Oak and 5- Red Oak. Tree planting began on Thursday March 26, and concluded on Saturday May 2. The most active planting time was mid-April.
The trees were planted on public sites across the state, including schools, nature preserves, city parks and fairgrounds. For the five years of the project, we have planted 5,325 trees at 213 sites from north to south and east to west across Illinois. The 213 sites include locations in 92 different counties. The AISWCD
Forestry Committee, SWCD’s and Extension 4-H consider this project to be an overwhelming success. Our vision is to continue the tree planting program until we have planted at least one Oak Savanna in every county in the state. Funding partners for the project were Illinois Forestry Development Council;
Extension 4-H Foundation; and the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts.