Fifth-graders at Red Pump Elementary School in Bel Air got a different classroom experience Monday when they joined a host of volunteers to plant 400 trees of eight varieties of native Maryland trees such as hickory, pin oak, red bud and river birch around the school's storm ponds and ball fields behind the school.
In addition to Red Pump, Harford Glen and the Harford County Department of Planning and Zoning also partnered for large scale tree plantings at Magnolia Middle School, North Harford High School and Patterson Mill Middle School. Students and volunteers worked together to plant the nearly 1,400 trees at the sites.
Sites were picked based on their proximity to a stream to expand the riparian buffer zones. Trees will also filter nutrients and pollution from entering the local streams and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay. At all plantings, students were instructed in proper planting protocols and in the benefits of expanding riparian buffers on their campuses. Signs containing a "QR" code to scan with mobile devices also have been installed.
Volunteers from Master Gardeners and Maryland Forest Service were on hand to help Howard Eakes from Harford Glen manage the projects along with Bryan Lightner from Planning and Zoning.
The tree planting was funded through the Governors Stream Restoration Challenge Grant. The school system has planted more than 2,000 trees through this grant and partnership with Planning and Zoning.