Support biodiversity by planting native trees

Virginia Department of Forestry used by permission from VDF Communication Specialist Cory Swift-Turner

Join the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF)in enhancing biodiversity and supporting wildlife across Virginia by planting native trees and shrubs.

Native species are crucial to our ecosystems, providing food and habitat for wildlife, especially important pollinators.

Unlike ornamental varieties, native trees have evolved to thrive in Virginia’s diverse environments, offering greater benefits to local ecosystems.

The Virginia DOF is teaming up with retail nurseries to promote the planting of native species through the “Throwing Shade VA” program.

This initiative offers a $25 discount on eligible native trees and shrubs valued at $50 or more.

Take advantage of this opportunity to make a positive environmental impact while beautifying your landscape with trees and shrubs that are naturally suited to Virginia’s climate.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

 

WC Habitat for Humanity makes strides with Osage Street project

At Home with Habitat 2020

Warren County Habitat for Humanity continues to make strides towards their Osage Street project.

Boyce resident and runner Michael Zawadzki took on the Boston Marathon yesterday as part of Habitat’s efforts to raise money for the project and brought in $2,500.00.

Michael had a blazing pace for the first half of the marathon with an hour and 52 minutes and finished in just over four hours and 20 minutes.

You can still check out his newsmaker with Scott by clicking here. 

Warren County Habitat for Humanity also received a grant of over $235,000 to help accelerate their neighborhood revitalization project on Osage Street.

This grant was secured through the Susan Dewey Virginia Housing Grant and Warren County Habitat for Humanity was one of five affiliates to receive funding.

This will help with not just the construction but also to subsidize loan costs, enable deserving families to qualify for mortgages and secure their homes.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Throwing VA shade program

You spoke and they listened, the Throwing VA Shade Program has expanded their program for discounts on native trees with two local nurseries.

The Seven Bends Nurseries in Winchester and Strasburg are joining Woodstock Gardens from now through May 1, retail customers can
receive $25 discounts on select native trees and shrubs (valued at $50 or more) from the nurseries.

Throwing Shade VA Program incentivizes Virginians to plant native species of trees and shrubs, which provide water quality benefits and offer an important source of food and habitat for wildlife and pollinators.

Not only can native species meet any landscaping objective, they require less maintenance and little to no fertilizer.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Throwing shade VA program

Virginia Department of Forestry used by permission from VDF Communication Specialist Cory Swift-Turner

The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) is partnering with three Virginia nurseries to launch a new pilot program featuring discounts on native trees and shrubs.

“Throwing Shade VA” helps nurseries promote native trees through customer discounts of $25 on eligible trees valued at $50 or more.

Incentives to purchase native species of trees and shrubs, which are adapted to their natural environment and thus more likely to thrive.

Native plants offer environmental benefits than ornamental species and provide food and habitat for wildlife, especially essential pollinators.

Three nurseries responded to DOF’s request for participation in the pilot program.

Burke Nursery & Garden Centre (Burke), Woodstock Gardens (Woodstock) and Coastal Landscapes & Nursery (Virginia Beach) all volunteered to participate.

The program is funded through state water quality improvement funds, the DOF is using to reimburse the participating nurseries for the
discounts.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Riparian forest funding

Virginia Department of Forestry used by permission from VDF Communication Specialist Cory Swift-Turner

The Virginia Department of Forestry is now accepting applications for Riparian Forests for Landowners Program project funding.

This is a new statewide landowner assistance program that helps landowners create riparian forest buffer.

Selected service providers will facilitate the installation of, and one year of maintenance on, riparian forest buffers at no cost to the landowner.

Riparian forest buffers are areas near streams, lakes, or wetlands that contain a combination of trees, shrubs, and other perennial plants, primarily to provide conservation benefits.

Riparian forest buffers filter nutrients, pesticides and animal waste from agricultural land runoff, filtering sediment from runoff, stabilizing eroding banks, providing shade, shelter and food for fish and provide wildlife.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

DWR seeks public review of Virginia Bear Management Plan

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is seeking public review of the next Virginia Bear Management Plan through September 5, 2023.

Once finalized, the new Bear Plan will guide bear management in the Commonwealth through 2032.

This includes a mission statement and six goals that address the areas of populations, habitat, recreation, human-bear conflicts, health, and welfare.

The first Bear Plan was established in 2001 and has been revised twice through the years through the involvement of public stakeholders and managers of bears in Virginia.

It is important to continue to develop and improve the plan to incorporate current public values and biological considerations.

For more information on bears from the DWR, click here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.