On October 13, 100 volunteers planted a riparian buffer along the headwaters of the creek located at the playing fields at Abington Junior High School. Our volunteers removed trash, planted over 380 native trees and shrubs, and installed deer fencing- all in just a few hours!
We had fun on planting day, but this project is not over yet. In the spring, we will install an interpretive sign at the site and create a helpful guide for creekside residents to help them learn about ways to plant buffers like this on their own property. Stay tuned for more information from us about these exciting new steps! You can also visit TTF’s Riparian Buffer page here.
TTF would like to extend special thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection & Aqua Pennsylvania for this TreeVitalize Watershed grant and an anonymous donor for their generosity. Special thanks to our amazing partner, the Abington EAC and our amazing host, the Abington School District.
We couldn’t have done this planting without expert guidance from Nancy Minich and her incredible staff at NAM Planning & Design, LLC. Plants were provided by Collins Nursery, Pinelands Nursery & Supply, and Ernst Conservation Seeds Inc. Thanks to Dottie Baumgarten of Sustainable Choices for bringing her enviroscape and providing watershed education during the day.
Thanks to our volunteers who came from far and wide! Many thanks to Abington teachers Tina Rooney and Mike Staszkiw, Philadelphia teacher Denise Eiler and family, Jenkintown Mayor Ed Foley, Cheltenham EAC Chair David McVeigh Schultz, Whole Foods’ Veronica Melching, and the Barnes, Champalov, and Fordham families. Also, thanks to Abington’s service learning program, Green Thumbs, Science Club, and H2O Club. We’d also like to recognize students Kayla and Jared from Abington, and Aliyah from Central for being such committed volunteers.
Take a sneak peek at the event photos here. More pictures to come!
