On National Public Lands Day, observed Saturday, Sept. 27, Wellington Landscape/Forestry Operations Supervisor Brian Hopper joined the Wellington Garden Club and local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops to plant a Florida slash pine forest in the Wellington Environmental Preserve at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Everglades Habitat off Flying Cow Road.
In less than three hours, with the help of more than 50 volunteers, 1,000 pine trees and 200 mahogany trees were planted. Among the volunteers were Wellington Garden Club members, members of the Palm Beach Central High School Earth Club, members of Boy Scout Troop 125 and members of Girl Scout troops 20511, 20515, 22222, 21105, 20669 and 21001.
The Wellington Public Works staff prepared the holes and provided necessary tools and drinking water. The pines were actually leftover seedlings from Wellington’s Earth Day celebration in April. They were planted in pots and nurtured by Indian Trails Native Nursery in Lake Worth until they were large enough to plant in the preserve.
ABOVE: Volunteers join Wellington workers to plant the new forest.
