Become a Maryland PLANT Community!

Applications due December 15 to the Maryland Urban & Community Forest Committee (MUCFC) ____________________________________________________

Has your community—a homeowners association, school, park, town, etc—participated in a tree planting event this year? Have you and others maintained the health of your community’s existing trees through watering, mulching, and more? If so, your community may be eligible for state-wide recognition as a Maryland PLANT community! There are four PLANT (People Loving And Nurturing Trees) award levels based on communities’ commitment to planting and caring for their urban forests: green, gold, silver, and bronze. A park that has one tree planting event, for example, may qualify for a bronze award.  A “Green” school may qualify for a silver award. A city that is working towards a tree canopy goal may qualify for a gold or green award.

Last year, there were 128 communities recognized throughout the state of Maryland for their tree planting and tree maintenance efforts. The 2008 (Western Region) PLANT Communities include:

City of Brunswick (Bronze)
Catoctin High School (Silver)
City of Cumberland (Green)
Fort Detrick (Green)
City of Frederick (Green)
Town of Friendsville (Green)
City of Hagerstown Green)
Town of Loch Lynn Heights (Green)
Middletown High School (Bronze)
North Glade 4-H Community Center (Bronze)
Town of Oakland (Green)
Tuscarora Elementary School (Silver)
Urbana Middle School (Silver)
Valley Elementary School (Silver)
Walkersville High School (Silver)
Friends of Waterford Park (Gold)
Western Maryland 4-H Center (Silver)
Wolfsville Elementary School (Silver)

The Maryland Urban & Community Forest Committee (MUCFC) encourages both new and past applicants to apply for this year’s 2009 PLANT awards – applications are due December 15! Applications and more information can be found at:  http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/programs/plantinfo.html.