New trees are taking root in St. Helena

ST. HELENA — A fresh burst of green is taking root on St. Helena’s ball field and Social Club grounds, thanks to a statewide tree-planting initiative that aims to rebuild community forests across Nebraska.

The Village of St. Helena and the St. Helena Social Club received 10 new trees through the Trees for Nebraska Towns Initiative, a program of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and the Nebraska Forest Service. Community members and Social Club volunteers planted Catalpa, cottonwood, honey locust, Kentucky coffeetree and Princeton elm varieties Oct. 21 to replace aging trees that had been removed and to provide shade for future generations.

The Social Club is home to St. Helena’s annual Fourth of July celebration, along with weddings, reunions and other gatherings throughout the year.

Group members applied for the trees to enhance the site’s beauty and long-term comfort. Program leaders note that trees offer wide-ranging social, environmental and economic benefits — including improved health, energy savings and greater community appeal.

Trees for Nebraska Towns helps reverse that recent trend of shrinking tree canopies by providing high-quality trees for public projects and educational events that promote fall planting. The initiative emphasizes increasing species diversity and supporting projects with the greatest community impact, particularly street planting and efforts in areas of highest need.

The program is funded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust and the USDA Forest Service through grants to the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and the Nebraska Forest Service.

Those helping plant the trees included Victor Paltz, Kyle Suing and Clair Wieseler.