Escambia County along with several local agencies have joined forces to produce tree giveaway events in observance of Florida's Arbor Day — Saturday, Jan. 18.
Escambia County will hold its tree giveaway and public planting Saturday, Jan. 18 from 8:45 - 11 a.m. at Beulah Middle School, located at 6001 Nine Mile Road. Support for the event is provided by the Florida Forest Service, Escambia County Natural Resources Management Division and UF/IFAS Extension.
The event will begin with a tree planting ceremony at 8:45 a.m., followed by a tree giveaway and educational sessions near the school gymnasium. Parking is available on the right (west) side of the campus when entering from the front of the school. Each family will receive two free native 1-gallon trees. Species available include swamp chestnut oak, chickasaw plum, red maple and mayhaw.
Escambia County will also host its fourth annual Arbor Day Mail Art Contest award ceremony this year. To participate, drop off a painting, or mixed media artwork with the theme, “Spreading Roots and Branching Out” to Arbor Day Art Contest c/o Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment. Please include your name, age, and contact information on the back of your artwork. Contest entries must be dropped off by Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 4:30 p.m. Winners will be announced at the tree giveaway on Saturday, Jan. 18 at Beulah Middle School.
First place winners of the art contest will receive prizes including a seven-gallon tree, a shovel and a tree book. Second place winners will receive a tree book and and third place winners will receive gardening gloves. Categories include children (12-under), teen (13-18) and adult (over 18).
For more information about Escambia County Arbor Day events, contact Carrie Stevenson, Coastal Sustainability Agent III, UF/IFAS Extension, at 850-475-5230 or ctsteven@ufl.edu.
