Red Spruce Tree Planting

Join the Maryland/DC chapter for an annual tradition—planting red spruce at Cranesville Swamp Preserve.

• Friday, April 21 from 11:00 am -4:00 pm
• Saturday, April 22 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Volunteers may sign up for one or both days. Need overnight accommodations? Visit the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce website to help plan your stay in Western Maryland.

Red spruce (Picea rubens) once covered thousands of acres in western Maryland. Logging and subsequent wildfires at the turn of the 20th century drastically reduced its range. It's estimated that in the Central Appalachians as much as 90% of the original red spruce forest is now gone.

You can help us change that statistic and made a difference—one seedling at a time!

Your efforts will improve habitat quality for rare plants and animals, restore carbon-rich soils and improve hydrology and local climate, reducing erosion and increasing percolation of water into the underlying bedrock. It's a pretty good payoff for a spring day spent in a beautiful place!

Notes to keep in mind:

• There are no facilities at the planting site.
• We recommend packing water and a lunch.
• Please dress in layers and be ready for rain, snow and/or sun. The weather is extremely variable in this region.
• Wear sturdy shoes/hiking boots that you don't mind getting wet. We will be planting along the edge of the swamp.
• Pack dry socks/a change of clothes for the ride home-you won't regret it!

Cranesville Swamp Preserve is located in western Maryland approximately 3-4 hours from Washington/Baltimore and 1.5 hours from Morgantown, WV.