Sidney Tree Board Set To Give Away Trees

The Sidney Tree Board will celebrate Arbor Day with its annual tree give-away Saturday, April 28th at the Lodgepole Valley Youth Camp. This year marks the 32nd year Sidney has been recognized as a Tree City USA community by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

The celebration and tree give-away continue to be a major part of the Sidney Tree Board’s community work to maintain a healthy and diverse tree canopy in the City of Sidney.

The board is offering ten different species of deciduous trees to Sidney residents including: Thornless Hawthorn, Shademaster Honeylocust, Profusion Crabapple, Canada Red Select Cherry, Majestic Skies Pin Oak, Heritage Oak, European Mountain Ash, Japanese Tree Lilac, Redmond Linden, and Princeton American Elm. No evergreen trees will be offered this year.

“The tree board has selected a great variety of trees for this year’s give-away,” said Tom Von Seggern, Tree Board Chair. “When selecting the trees to give-away the board strives to get trees that are known to grow well in the area. We have everything offered from small ornamental trees, medium sized trees, to large shade trees to fit any yard.”

Gates open at 7 a.m. and residents from within the City of Sidney can browse trees and decide which would be best in their yard. They will then sign in, and can designate their tree preference.

The Arbor Day celebration begins at 8 a.m., followed by a presentation from Amy Seiler from the Nebraska Forest Service. As part of her program, Seiler will provide information about the different types of trees and good placement for them, then show participants how to properly prepare and plant their tree. Afterward, those attending will receive their trees. Approximately 90 trees are slated to be given away.

The Lodgepole Valley Youth Camp board, which is serving as the day’s hosts, will be hosting an open house and providing coffee and donuts. Local Boy Scouts will be on hand to assist participants.