On Saturday, October 17, 2026, eight Rotarians, one Rotarian spouse, and two township volunteers gathered at Oberland Township Park in Newbury Township for another major step toward completing our America250 tree planting project.
This was truly a multi-day effort! The work began on Wednesday, October 14, with the delivery of 125 additional Sugar Maple trees from a nursery in Missouri. On Friday, October 16, a tractor-mounted auger was used to drill the holes for the trees, and the trees were distributed throughout the designated planting area in preparation for Saturday's work.
Saturday morning brought the volunteers together to begin planting. Each tree was carefully placed in its pre-drilled hole, covered with soil, and surrounded with mulch. A mesh ground cover was added around each tree to help control weeds. Additional protection was installed to give the young trees the best possible chance of survival. Plastic trunk protectors were placed around the trunks to guard against rabbits, while three-foot-diameter wire mesh enclosures, anchored to stakes, were installed to protect the trees from deer.
Although several groups who had committed to helping were unable to attend, the volunteers who showed up worked exceptionally hard throughout the day. Their dedication paid off, with 104 trees successfully planted on October 17th and the remaining 21 trees were planted during an afternoon work session on October 21st..
With this latest planting, a total of 200 Sugar Maple trees will be growing at Oberland Township Park! The Board of Directors overseeing the park has agreed to help care for the trees by watering them as needed until they become established and maintaining the grass in the meadow where they are planted.
We are not quite finished yet! Our plan is to plant the remaining 50 trees next fall during the appropriate planting season. That will bring us to our goal of 250 trees and complete our America250 project.
The crowning achievement of this project will be the installation of a stone monument recognizing the project and its significance. The monument will serve as a lasting reminder of what Rotary and its community partners accomplished in celebration of America's 250th anniversary. Most of our current Burton-Middlefield Rotary members may not be around to see these Sugar Maples mature to the point where their sap can be tapped, but generations of park visitors will enjoy the beauty and benefits of these trees. They will also see firsthand the lasting impact of a Rotary community service project.
A very special thank-you goes to Rotarian Dave Terrill and his assistant, PDG Dale Smith, who have worked tirelessly and contributed countless volunteer hours to move this project forward. Their leadership, along with the commitment and support of the Burton-Middlefield Rotary Club and our community volunteers, has made this effort possible.
Two hundred trees planted, 50 more to go, and a legacy that will continue to grow for generations! That is Rotary in action!