By Barbara Arnstein
Arbor Day, the April day that’s all about the importance of trees, is more important than ever now because we have lost more forest land in the last fifty years than ever before. In 2023, nine million acres of forest vanished due to wildfires and other effects of climate change, and deforestation. One local group helping to add more of the beauty and benefits of trees to this area is Green Springville. If you live in Springville and you have a yard, you can request a free tree AND free planting from it.
Thanks to over two dozen volunteers, generous donations from Schichtel’s Nursery (one of the largest wholesale nurseries in the greater Buffalo area) and Timberbuilt (which sells energy-efficient timber frame homes), and the help of Springville Moose Lodge 1249, during last year’s 1st Annual Green Springville “Tree the Village” Arbor Day planting, over 100 families received one or more of a dozen different trees. Trees were also planted on the Springville-Griffith Institute campus. The choices included small trees (Hawthorn, Serviceberry, Crabapple, and Flowering Apple), medium trees (American Linden and Tupelo), large trees (Red Oak, Scarlet Oak, Sugar Maple, Red Maple and Swamp White Oak) and one jumbo tree (White Oak).
The 2nd Annual “Tree the Village” Day planting day for residents who requested trees is Saturday, April 26th, in honor of Arbor Day and Earth Day. At least 100 trees will be planted in the village. To learn more about Green Springville, be put on the waiting list for a tree, or to offer help as a volunteer, go to greenspringville.org, or look at its Facebook page.
Arbor Day 2025 is officially Friday, April 25th, but many states celebrate it on different days depending on their planting seasons. Julius Sterling Morton, a Nebraskan Journalist who later became the United States Secretary of Agriculture, originated the day in Nebraska in 1872, and by 1920, 45 states and territories were celebrating it. Nowadays all fifty do, and there are celebrations around the world.
On Friday, April 25th, between 6-8pm, bikers and walkers will celebrate Arbor Day on the Pat McGee Trail in Allegany State Park. They’ll begin by gathering in the parking lot of Little Valley’s Ellicottville Brewing Company (202 2nd Street), then the bikers will bike two miles south towards Salamanca, while the walkers will walk one mile north towards Cattaraugus to the Wetlands to see birds. For questions or to use bikes, contact the Environmental Education Recreation Department at (716) 379-6939.
walkers will celebrate Arbor Day on the Pat McGee
Trail in Allegany State Park. They’ll begin by gathering
in the parking lot of Little Valley’s Ellicottville
Brewing Company (202 2nd Street), then the bikers
will bike two miles south towards Salamanca, while
the walkers will walk one mile north towards Cattaraugus
to the Wetlands to see birds. For questions
or to use bikes, contact the Environmental Education
Recreation Department at (716) 379-6939.
Fun Fact: In 2019, Team Trees was formed when YouTube creators Mr. Beast and Mark Rober joined with the Arbor Day Foundation to raise 20 million dollars to plant 20 million trees. This was accomplished in just eight weeks, setting the record for the biggest Youtube collaboration fundraiser! More than 800,000 people from 200 countries and territories donated, and as of April 15th, close to 25 million dollars has been raised. For more information about trees and Arbor Day, go to Arborday.org.