Egremont trust's tree program garners Mount Vernon tulip poplarThe Egremont Land Trust was one of twelve citizen groups and municipalities honored recently during Millenium Green Recognition Ceremonies held in Belmont, with one of the awards consisting of a tulip poplar descended from a tree planted by George Washington.
"Millenium Green" is a US Forest Service-sponsored initiative from the White House Millenium Council. The groups were honored for tree-planting projects that marked the passage into the new millenium. In recognition of their millenium project, each group was given a Famous and Historic Tree. On behalf of the Egremont Land Trust, Eileen Vining accepted a tulip poplar tree which is a direct offspring of one planted by George Washington in 1785 and still growing at Mount Vernon. The Egremont Land Trust's project, "Trees for 2000," involved raising money within the community and planting 34 large native shade trees along Main Street and Sheffield Road in South Egremont, to replace and augment heritage shade trees of the past. A fund has been established for additional plantings. Speaking at the ceremony, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Commissioner Peter C. Webber recognized the connection trees make between our past and our future. Through its Mass ReLeaf program, DEM offers funding opportunities to cities and towns for tree planting. Call Edith Makra at (781)741-5909. To help with more plantings in Egremont, call (413)528-6626.
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