Planning is underway for a large planting (over 4000 trees) in the Channels State Forest near Meadowview. The planting will include both silvaculture test plots and reforestation. In addition, the Branch is working with two high schools to coordinate educational plantings with a mix of American, Chinese, F1, and Restoration seedlings provided by the Chapter. The plantings will be part of the established Panicello Trail at Abingdon High School in Washington County and a walking trail at the new Ridgeview High School Trail in Dickenson County.
The Branch will sponsor a public talk in the spring and our restoration celebration in the fall. Dr. John Scrivani will speak at the Bristol Public Library on Saturday March 19, from 2-3 pm on How the American Chestnut Acquired and Lost Foundation Species Status. Our 7th Annual Restoration Celebration will be held in late October at the Glenn C. Price Farm at Meadowview and will feature farm tours, live music and chestnut themed food and drink and, of course, fresh roasted chestnuts.
The Branch will be represented at several area events where we educate the public about the chestnut story and restoration and also recruit additional Branch and Chapter volunteers. These events include Earth Day in Abingdon (Saturday, Apr. 18), the Mid-Atlantic Garden Faire (Apr. 22-24), the Virginia Highlands Festival (Aug 2) and Damascus Trail Days (May 13-14). The latter will include a Mega Transect seminar and hike on the Appalachian Trail to identify surviving American chestnuts. In the early fall Branch members attend Farm Field Days where every Washington County 6th grader (about 600) is introduced to a variety of agricultural and environmental topics, including our presentation of the chestnut story. For the fifth year, we will organize a Teacher In-Service workshop. Chestnut history, restoration, and classroom learning materials (highlighting the Learning Box) are presented to encourage teachers to include the chestnut story in their classes.
