Georgetown, Del.- There was impressive turnout in Georgetown on Thursday as the Sussex Conservation District hosted the inaugural "Trees for Every Delawarean Initiative" (TEDI) Native Tree Giveaway.
People had lined up to receive their tree about an hour before the scheduled start time of the giveaway event. This prompted and early start at about 12:45 p.m. All 200 trees were gone before 1:15 p.m.
Siobhan Kelley, the Communications and Outreach Specialist for Sussex Conservation District, underscored the importance of the native tree selection saying, "These trees are really great because they are native, providing habitat and shelter for local wildlife while also making strides in improving air and water quality."
The TEDI initiative aimed to provide 200 trees to Sussex County residents. The available tree species included Bald Cypress, River Birch, Serviceberry, and Sweetbay Magnolia.
The trees, generously offered to the community, quickly found new homes, with all 200 trees claimed in under 30 minutes. Residents, like Andrew Hopkins from Milton, expressed their enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, "There’s so much clear-cutting going on in Sussex County that it’s great to see an initiative that refills the trees back into the environment."
This sentiment was echoed by Joe Parent, a Councilman from Millville, who remarked, "They’ve stripped a lot of farmland, a lot of woods, and we’re looking to return some of that tree canopy back to our community."
Each tree distributed came with a QR code, offering valuable information on proper selection, planting, and maintenance. Additionally, residents can use the QR code to mark their tree's location and contribute to the TEDI Tracker.
Siobhan Kelley reiterated, "And what you can also do with it is mark your tree’s location so you can show the community and the state how you were part of something bigger than just your single tree."
In Sussex County, residents are actively sowing the seeds for a more sustainable future. The success of the TEDI Native Tree Giveaway demonstrates the community's commitment to environmental stewardship.