The Allegheny National Forest and the American Chestnut Foundation are hosting an Earth Day event on April 22 to plant 300 American Chestnut seeds and seedlings on two harvest sites in the Allegheny National Forest near Tionesta in Forest County.

The project is designed to evaluate methods for reintroducing American Chestnuts into the ANF.

Volunteers are needed to do the planting from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. In order to work on The Allegheny National Forest, you’ll need to wear long pants and boots and sign a volunteer form.

You will also need to read the project job hazard analysis and bring gloves, water, and a lunch if you plan to eat on site.

The planting site is located in the town of Tionesta in Forest County, PA, off of RT. 666, which connects the towns of East Hickory and Sheffield.  From the intersection of RT. 62 and RT. 666 in East Hickory:

-- Take RT. 666 East and follow for 4.9 miles.

-- Turn left onto Yellow Hammer Rd/Beaver Valley Rd/Brecht Rd/ RT. 4006

-- Follow Yellow Hammer Rd/Beaver Valley Rd/Brecht Rd/ RT. 4006 for 1.5 miles

-- Continue straight onto Yellow Hammer Rd/Brecht Rd, which at this point is also called FR 209.

-- Follow FR 209 for 1.5 miles.

-- Turn right onto FR 249 and follow for 0.5 miles.  You’ll see cars parked on the right in front of a large site.

If you need help finding the site, contact Leila Pinchot, Research Ecologist, U.S. Forest Service, call 203-907-7429 or send email to: corneliapinchot@fs.fed.us.

Click Here for all the details.

For more information on efforts to restore the American Chestnut in Pennsylvania, visit the PA Chapter-American Chestnut Foundation website.

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[Posted: April 20, 2017]

4/24/2017