West Cape May to Give Away Free Saplings

In honor of Arbor Day, the West Cape May Shade Tree Commission is giving away tree saplings on May 3, 4, and 5, 2022 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at Borough Hall, 732 Broadway, West Cape May.  

Storms like Superstorm Sandy devastated the tree canopy of many New Jersey communities. To restore New Jersey’s delicate tree and shoreline balance, the state partners with the Arbor Day Foundation to present the New Jersey Tree Recovery Program. To date, more than 332,982 trees have been distributed. The free trees will be distributed while supplies last. The giveaway is sponsored by the West Cape May Shade Tree Commission, the New Jersey Forest Service, and the Arbor Day Foundation.  

Potential varieties include dogwood, black gum, sycamore, swamp white oak, willow oak, American holly, beach plum, bald cypress, red cedar, bayberry, pitch-loblolly pine and white pine. The trees are between six and 24 inches tall and have been harvested when dormant without soil around the roots, making them easier to transport and plant.  

Established by the Borough of West Cape May, the Shade Tree Commission is charged with preserving the borough’s urban forest and improving the care of vital community trees. Comprised of community volunteers, the commission meets monthly and is committed to protecting and enhancing the natural beauty of West Cape May for the benefit of its citizens and wildlife. West Cape May has been designated a Tree City USA for 24 consecutive years by the Arbor Day Foundation.