STATE NEWS — It’s our state’s largest single-day tree planting effort and it takes place on Saturday, March 21 – the official first day of Spring. Thousands of folks across all Tennessee’s 95 counties will come together to plant trees for generations to come.

The Tennessee Environmental Council wants to help you participate by offering tree seedlings for a small donation to the state non-profit. Those trees can be picked up by Moore County residents in surrounding counties. Regionally, you may pick up seedlings in Bedford, Coffee, or Lincoln counties.

Why plant trees? Because they’re crucial to a happy and healthy environment. They filter the air we breathe, filter water, and help reduce the ozone layer. Most importantly, they sequester carbon, which helps remove carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from our air, which in turn cools the earth. They also provide habitat for animals and provide the key ingredients in up to 25 percent of medicines.

In Bedford County, trees can be picked up at the UT Extension Office located at 2105 Midland Road in Shelbyville. In Coffee County, trees can be picked up at the Coffee County UT Master Gardeners located at 1331 McArthur Street in Manchester. In Lincoln County, trees can be picked up at Don Davidson Park at 1701 Wilson Parkway in Fayetteville. Pick up locations will not be able to take cash. Those who wish to participate must order and pay for their seedlings online. To view a list of the types of seedlings available at each pick up site and order trees, click here. The deadline to order tree seedlings is March 1.

According to their website, since 2007, the Tennessee Tree Project has mobilized over 60,000 Tennessee residents in planting 637,100 native trees in Tennessee and beyond. For more information, visit the Tennessee Tree Day 2020 website.•

{The Lynchburg Times is an independently owned and operated community newspaper that publishes new stories every morning. Covering Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}