Community organizations and businesses prepare for The Woodlands Arbor Day

THE WOODLANDS, Texas –The Woodlands Development Company (TWDC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Howard Hughes Corporation® (NYSE:HHC), The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau, Repsol, The Woodlands Township and The Brickman Group, Ltd. have stepped up as sponsors for the annual Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday, January 18, 2014 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the award-winning Rob Fleming Park in The Woodlands’ Village of Creekside Park. Repsol, an integrated global oil and gas company with U.S. headquarters in The Woodlands, is the newest event sponsor. The Arbor Day Celebration will kick off the 40th anniversary year of The Woodlands which officially opened on October 19, 1974.

Since 1977, The Woodlands Development Company and its sponsors have given away approximately 1.9 million tree seedlings at Arbor Day. For the second year, The Woodlands Township will donate an additional 91,000 tree seedlings to be distributed at the event in an effort to reforest The Woodlands due to the 2011 historic drought. This brings the total amount of tree seedlings to be handed out to 121,000 this year.

Eight different varieties of tree seedlings will be available free, continuing a 38-year tradition that began in 1977. The selections of trees include Eastern Redbud, Flowering Dogwood, Loblolly Pine, River Birch, Southern Wax Myrtle, Sweetbay Magnolia, Shumard Oak and Water Oak. In addition to receiving free tree seedlings, guests may register at the event to win one of five, seven-gallon native trees. The drawings will take place hourly. You must be present to win.

“Through the years, the developer and sponsors have given away over one million tree seedlings to help perpetuate the forested environment at the Arbor Day celebration,” said Susan Vreeland-Wendt, Director of Marketing for TWDC. “We are grateful to all of the sponsors who make this a wonderful, free community event. We invite residents of the community and guests to come out and enjoy the Arbor Day festivities and receive new tree seedlings.”

Residents are encouraged to collect their free tree seedlings at Arbor Day and plant them on their property, in community open space reserves and forest preserves.

Lovable mascot of The Woodlands, Puffy Pine Cone®, will also celebrate his birthday, beginning at 1 p.m. with free birthday cupcakes and a visit with his mascot friends including Bridgeland Bill from The Woodlands’ sister community, Bridgeland. Bridgeland is also a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Howard Hughes Corporation.

Free giant inflatable rides and rock walls, pony rides, petting zoo and face painting will entertain the crowd. Concessions will also be sold at the event (cash only). Musical entertainment will be provided by local youth.