DELAWARE — The Delaware Tree Stewards, housed under the Delaware Forest Service’s Urban and Community Program, announced it is offering a four-session training, geared toward participants living in both New Castle County and Sussex County, Delaware. Participants will be equipped with skills to be able to work with neighbors, organizations and local public agencies within their own communities to organize and lead tree planting projects, assess new potential tree planting sites, care for existing tree canopy and access a variety of technical and financial resources to support their endeavors. This training will be provided by Craig Highfield, Forests Program Director for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and Heather Titanich, Community Forester for the Delaware Center for Horticulture. The training covers topics including:
- Tree biology & health
Discussion of anatomy and physiology of trees and how they interact with soil. This session provides the foundation to understanding how trees grow and react to challenges of urban and suburban planting sites. - Site assessment & tree selection
Right Tree for the Right Space. This session will go over the steps to properly assess the growing conditions of a planting site and tools to help you select the trees that will grow best at that site. - Proper planting techniques
Planting a tree properly and providing tree maintenance is essential for a successful project. Various planting techniques will be covered to address the challenges of urban sites and the care needed in order to help the new trees be established. - Organizing community plantings events
Discuss how to bring together your site assessment, tree selection, planting requirements and other logistical elements into a comprehensive plan.
Throughout the year, the Delaware Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry program offers a four-part training and certification program that joins together a group of passionate volunteers from across the state, as they cover tree science, tree care techniques, and project development. The dates and times of each session are as follows:
Sessions with Craig Highfield, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
- June 5 | 7:00-8:30 P.M.
- June 7 | 7:00-8:30 P.M.
- June 12 | 7:00-8:30 P.M.
- June 14 | 7:00-8:30 P.M.
All four sessions will be held virtually. Register here: allianceforthebay.org/TreeStewards
Sessions with Heather Titanich, Delaware Center for Horticulture
- June 8 | 6:00-8:00 P.M.
- June 13 | 6:00-8:00 P.M.
- June 20 | 6:00-8:00 P.M.
All three sessions will be held at 1810 N Dupont St, Wilmington DE 19806, DCH Founder’s Room. Register here: https://thedch.org/events/?eid=14135
Tree Stewards Volunteer Event
- June 25 | 10:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. – Banning Regional Park, 102 Middleboro Rd, Wilmington DE 19804
Delaware Forest Service Urban Forestry Coordinator Kesha Braunskill remarked, “Delaware Forest Service is happy to have our partners assist with providing such an important program to citizens in Delaware who are interested in learning how to keep our community trees healthy. We hope that more people will take an interest in becoming certified Delaware Tree Stewards so that we can continue to grow Delaware’s tree canopy.”
Launched in Fall 2020, the Delaware Tree Stewardship program connects Delawareans to their landscapes through the acts of planting and caring for trees. Delaware Tree Stewards is an excellent opportunity to connect with experts and learners alike. By completing training and networking with other stewards, graduates will be able to recognize opportunities and coordinate tree projects where they are needed most. Visit de.gov/treestewards to find out how you can get involved!
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