Woman's Club Headlines Arbor Day Ceremony

The Woman’s Club joined several town officials and Johnston County Ranger Doug White Friday in a tree planting ceremony at Clayton Community Park in honor of Arbor Day.

The event celebrated the commitment town officials have made to maintain the area's small-town charm despite rapid growth as well as the town's designation as a "Tree City USA."

The group planted eight Eastern Redbuds between the parking lot and walking trail. Clayton’s Parks & Recreation crews will maintain the trees.

Town officials began an ambitious tree preservation program here a few years ago, winning status as a Tree City while building a database of every tree in town--tracking their age, kind, size and condition for a professional tree management program. Subdivision regulations have been tightened to require greater saving of trees in new developments, and new rules are in place requiring more bushes and shrubs on the US 70 corridor through town.

In addition, new trees have been planted all over town.

Arbor Day, which means simply “Tree Day,” is celebrated in all 50 states and in many other countries. Actual dates of the event differ for each area depending on planting times. North Carolina celebrates Arbor Day on the first Friday following the 15th of March.

For more information about Arbor Day, please visit www.arborday.org