MANSFIELD — Before handing out nearly 250 tree seedlings to an excited group of fourth graders at Malabar Intermediate School Tuesday, Doug Versaw told the children about the tree he received in fifth grade.
Versaw, of the Mansfield Shade Tree Commission, recalls planting a tiny tree seedling near his Lincoln, Nebraska home as a young boy and watching it grow. Today, he says, it’s nearly as tall as the ceiling in the school’s auditorium.
“I’ve loved trees my whole life,” Versaw said. “I’ve been back to see it every year, and now my tree is about as tall as this room.”
He handed out the white pine seedlings with Mayor Tim Theaker and the Shade Tree Commission program coordinator Kim Hildrith in honor of Arbor Day, typically celebrated the last Friday of April. The celebration was postponed because of spring break and state tests.
Theaker urged the students to take care of the planet, by planting their trees and picking up trash.
“Without trees, without grass, without oxygen, we wouldn’t be able to breathe,” Theaker said. “We have to remember to take care of the Earth.”
Hildrith explained the importance of trees, saying they reduce erosion of topsoil, provide animals with shelter and fight off pollution.
“They are very beneficial,” Hildrith said. “They are good for cities, and they are good for us.”
Even if a child doesn’t have a backyard, it’s still possible to plant their tree. She sent the children home with information on how to plant them in containers.
“My mom’s planting a garden, so I could put this in there,” said 10-year-old D’arco Davis.
Classmate, Vernay Fears, says she can plant hers outdoors, too.
“I want to plant it kind of close to my house to give it more shade,” said Fears, recalling what she’d learned in the presentation.
Hildrith told the students that when trees are planted near buildings, they can reduce heating and cooling costs. The tree will provide shade, blocking the sun on hot days, and likewise, it will provide an extra layer of protection against harsh winter weather.
The seedlings were donated to the Shade Tree Commission from the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District.
Teachers could take home leftover trees for their own yards. Versaw had one in hand as he left the building. He intended to plant it later in the day, too.
