Hannah Rodriguez and Ryan Barton of the California Conservation Corps team up to set support stakes around a young cork oak tree April 20 behind Ramsay Park as part of the Watsonville Community Forest program. Watsonville Wetlands Watch and the City of Watsonville received a joint grant from the California Department of Fire and Forestry and the California Climate Investment Program in 2017 to plant free shade trees for residents and businesses in the city. “The goal is to plant thousands of trees to increase tree canopy cover in streetscapes and public parks,” said Jonathan Pilch, executive director of WWW. “The public is invited to free trees available through a grant for residents to adopt a tree for their front yard to establish shade.” Staff will provide three years of pruning and care to get the tree established. In just the last week, the group planted 54 trees that include cork and coast live oaks, elm, crape myrtle and Brisbane box. Scores of volunteers have also helped out including members of Freedom Rotary. For information and to sign up for WWW’s Adopt a Tree program, and to learn more about the entire Forest and Climate Resiliency program, visit watsonvillewetlandswatch.org or call 728.1156, extension 3.
