TORRINGTON – Local fourth graders participated in planting trees at the Sports Complex on Friday as part of the upcoming recognition of Arbor Day.
Matt John with the Torrington Parks and Rec. department met with the students behind Field 4 at the complex to plant three new trees to help create a wind break.
According to Mayor Randy Adams at the city council meeting on Tuesday, April 5, Torrington was once again recognized as a Tree City USA which was the reason for the annual tree planting ceremony.
John told the students Arbor Day started in Nebraska where it is a state holiday and is also recognized in all 50 states. Arbor Day was started by John Sterling Morton in 1854 who moved from the east coast to Nebraska and started planting trees around the state.
The three new trees accompanied two other trees which were planted three years prior and will help to add a wind break in the area.
John was asked about what trees were native to the area. John said cottonwoods were most native as they grow near riverbeds along with pine trees, but the desert-like conditions of Wyoming is the reason for so little trees in the state.
John said this is the 38th year Torrington has participated in the tree planting ceremony to correlate with Arbor Day and said the city’s tradition is the second longest in the state. John said he has been coordinating the event for 13 years and he decides each year where the best place to plant the trees are in the city.
The students broke up into three groups and took turns shoveling dirt into the holes where the trees were planted and then patted in the ground to keep the trees in place.
The event helps to teach students each year about Arbor Day as well as the importance of trees in the area especially in a windy climate.
