The Woodlands Township’s Arbor Day event gives away more than 12,000 native seedlings

THE WOODLANDS, TX - The Woodlands Township’s 45th Annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway was held Saturday, January 23, 2021, at the Sawdust Park and Ride. To maintain COVID safety, this year’s event was held as a drive-through and, by all accounts, it was a great success: 665 vehicles collected more than 12,000 native tree seedlings, all for free. Since its inception in 1977, more than 1.5 million trees have been distributed through the event.

Residents are encouraged to plant their seedlings on residential property and in community open spaces in support of community reforestation efforts. Each native seedling will grow into a beneficial tree for wildlife. Flowering varieties provide nectar for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Berry-producing trees offer small mammals and birds a source of food and many of these trees are host plants for butterflies, providing nutritious leaves for caterpillars to consume.

The Arbor Day Tree Giveaway is a free event produced by The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department with sponsorship from Centerpoint Energy, Chevron Phillips Chemical, Trees for Houston, Waste Management, Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. and Woodlands Water.

The next opportunity to receive free trees is at the upcoming Community Tree Planting Drive-Through on Saturday, February 13, 2021, from 9 a.m. to noon at The Woodlands High School Parking Lot. Residents can select up to two 3-gallon native trees by registering online at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/treeplanting. Registration is required. Trees can be planted at home or in green space throughout The Woodlands.

For more information about these events, please contact the Township’s Environmental Services Department at 281-210-3800 or enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

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