Help plant some trees in Germantown

The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, Inc. (TTF) is on a mission to enhance the health and vitality of creeks and their watershed in the area.

One of its latest initiatives is recruiting volunteers to plant trees.

To that end, TTF will host a community meeting at the Germantown Restoration Community Development Corp., located at 5539 Germantown Ave., at 6 p.m. Tuesday to discuss where the trees are needed the most and to organize volunteers for the project.

“We’re looking for community members to get involved in outreach, volunteer coordination, planting logistics and communication with the Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS),” said Katie Donnelly, associate director at TTF.

TTF’s reach includes neighborhoods in North, Northeast and Northwest Philadelphia as well as areas in Montgomery County.

A million-tree goal

Abby Grosslein, TTF’s tree-campaign organizer, said the group is working with the PHS “Plant One Million” campaign.

The goal is to restore the “tree canopy cover,” or area of land shaded by trees, in the Greater Philadelphia region to 30 percent.

The project aims to plant one million trees throughout 13 counties in southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

PHS reports that trees improve air and water quality while helping to reduce erosion, water pollution and flooding. Trees will hopefully be planted everywhere from city blocks to parks, Grosslein said.

“We’re looking at the larger impact. Trees will help manage storm water in the city,” said Grosslein, who noted TTF is seeking as many folks interested in planting as possible. “We’ll plant a tree wherever they’ll let us.”