Mountains to Sound Greenway group making push to meet tree-planting goal

Over 800 volunteers have planted 9,629 trees in the Mountains to Sound Greenway so far this fall.

The group has a goal of planting 25,000 trees by the end of December, according to Margaret Ullman, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust Volunteer Program Coordinator.

“Volunteers are truly making a difference at parks and along streams in the Greenway,” Ullman said.

Volunteer groups joining the tree planting effort over the past few weeks included school classes and clubs, a ski bus team looking to offset emissions from driving, local businesses, civic clubs and a troop of Daisy Scouts who earned two petal badges for their work.

The Home Depot Foundation has recently joined the Mountains to Sound Greenway tree planting campaign with a grant to purchase tree planting supplies to be used at volunteer events.

“The gift from Home Depot significantly expands our capacity to work with these volunteer teams and others by allowing us to purchase much-needed shovels, wheel barrows, and other planting supplies,” Ullman said.

Tree planting events are scheduled Saturdays in November and December, and will take place in natural areas between Mercer Island and North Bend.

Additional tree planting funders and partner agencies for the fall season include Carter Subaru and VW; REI; King Conservation District; Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office; Seattle Storm; National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; cities of Issaquah, Mercer Island, North Bend; King County; Washington State Parks; U.S. Forest Service. In-kind support comes from KMTT 103.7 The Mountain and the Snoqualmie Casino.

The Greenway Trust will hosts volunteer tree planting events:

* Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lake Sammamish State Park

* Saturday, Dec. 12, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lake Sammamish State Park.

To sign up to volunteer, visit the organization’s webside

or contact 206-812-0122 or volunteer@mtsgreenway.org. Full day and half-day shifts available.