Benicia Tree Foundation sponsored a Tree Care Day at Southampton Park on February 8, with 22 girl scouts and supporters of Benicia Troop 30433 attending. They spread piles of wood-chip mulch along the park’s creek. This volunteer effort completes a park makeover that began with planting 25 trees along the creek for Benicia Arbor Day on November 9 of last year. The wood-chips promote tree growth by reducing competition from weeds, retaining soil moisture, and improving soil conditions.
Troop Leader Bridget Nestor said each scout will volunteer 20 hours this year at city parks. “Our first volunteer project was planting 15 trees at Clocktower Park last month,” said Nestor. “We look forward to more of these opportunities.”
The girls scouts arrived at 9am and all the wood-chips were spread by 11:30. The Tree Care Day concluded with a gathering by the water cooler where the scouts presented Thank You cards to Benicia Tree Foundation board members Alice Fleck and Steven Goetz. The Foundation helped Troop 30433 earn their community service badge.
Goetz said the Troops also gave a generous donation to the Foundation so it can continue its work in the community. “The scouts were really great to work with and they even brought their own tools after they learned we would be short on rakes” said Goetz
Fleck emphasized “the makeover of Southampton Park wouldn’t have happened without the support of the City of Benicia parks staff who prepped the site, and provided the trees and wood chips. Our next event will be a tree pruning clinic at Liberty High School on February 22”
