TreeVitalize volunteers will plant 444 tree seedlings along Spring Creek and the Harrisburg Greenbelt October 24 to create a streamside buffer that will help protect the environment and add to the area’s quality of life, said Acting Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary John Quigley.

“Planting a tree is a simple act with a big impact, and fall is a great time to plant,” Acting Secretary Quigley said. “These seedlings will grow to help prevent runoff into the waterway, shade the water to make it cooler, and beautify the Greenbelt, which is a great source of recreation for city residents."

The planting in an area known as the “WITF Woodland” was made possible by donations to the public broadcaster.

“In addition to all the environmental improvements, the plantings are made possible through a terrific partnership with WITF, which gave its listeners an option of not only donating to public radio, but also helping to conserve and improve the natural resources in their own community through the TreeVitalize program,” Acting Secretary Quigley added.

Additional volunteers are still needed to help with the planting. Anyone interested can register on the TreeVitalize website.

The planting will occur near the 19th Street trailhead to the Greenbelt in Harrisburg. Local Cub Scouts will assist with the planting, which begins at 9 a.m. – rain or shine.

Volunteers should bring gloves, shovels, buckets for watering, a sledge hammer for pounding stakes, a pocket knife, and shears if they have them. The Home Depot in Harrisburg is donating some materials for use by the volunteers.

Launched in 2004 in southeastern Pennsylvania, TreeVitalize has planted almost 132,000 trees to date. The program’s goal is to plant one million trees in metropolitan areas statewide by 2012.

TreeVitalize Metros is a partnership of DCNR, Penn State Forestry Extension, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and local governments.

For more information, visit the TreeVitalize webiste or call 717-346-9583.