Celebrate Guilford's 375 Years with 375 Seedlings!

The Guilford Conservation Commission wanted to be a part of Guilford’s upcoming 375th Birthday in 2014. As the town now prepares and fundraises for the big year, the Commission wanted to help raise awareness and spirit around the celebration. 

With project leader Noelle King spearheading the efforts, the Commission decided to distribute 375 White Oak Seedlings on a first come first serve basis to Guilford families, for them to plant and watch grow for many years to come. The commemorative distribution will take place on Arbor Day, Friday April 26, at the Community Center from 3 PM to 6 PM.

“We were able to do this thanks to a $500 grant from the CT Urban Forest Council,” Commission member Laura Collins told Guilford Patch. 

Scott Williams, representing the CT Urban Forest Council, as well as CT Forester Rachel Holmes, will be at the distribution for questions. Women in Science Club from the Guilford  High School  will  also be present, and the commission hopes that and several tree pictures made by teens at the Guilford Public Library will also be on display. All of these resources and more will be on hand so residents will have information on proper planting practices and tree care.

“We will also have ceremonial planting of the first of the 375 trees that morning at 10 AM at the Henry Whitfield State Museum,” explained Collins. “And Michael McBride, curator of the museum, will be there, as well as other town officials like the First Selectman.”

“The reason we wanted to do the giveaway now is because, with luck, these seedlings will be growing by Guilford’s Birthday year next year,” Collins said. “One of the things we’ve discussed as a group is some sort of follow-up, or tracking of the trees. We don’t want residents to just throw them in their backyard and forget about them, our hope is that they will think about the trees and the great Guilford history of 375 that they represent. So, we’re throwing some ideas around that.”

“The Commission itself is also going to take some seedlings for some of our conservation properties, like the East River Preserve” continued Collins. “We hope to put plaques on those trees ultimately and keep an eye on their progress.” 

So, if you would like to own a piece of Guilford history, and be one of 375 Guilford households that grows one of these seedlings in honor of the town’s Birthday in 2014, just head to the Community Center on Arbor Day from 3 to 6. Remember, the trees are on a first come first serve basis. The seedlings will be in bags and there will be a sign-up sheet for those who take home one of the seedlings.