By JOSH FRYE
News Staff Writer
Atmore Mayor Jim Staff, members of the Atmore Garden Club, Escambia County Forester Thomas Davis and Escambia County Forestry Ranger Donnie Odom observed Arbor Day Thursday, April 25 with first-grade students from Rachel Patterson Elementary at Heritage Park with the planting of two winged elms.
“It is important to teach these young kids the importance of Arbor Day and plant life,” Davis said. “Trees and plants provide a multitude of important needs.”
As students gathered around the two winged elms being dedicated in Heritage Park, they learned several ways in which trees contribute to our environment.
“Trees decrease the temperature, help filter and provide oxygen, filter water and many other very important environmental aspects,” Davis said.
Mayor Staff stressed that Arbor Day will help develop future generations and leaders of tomorrow.
“I never knew the many things that trees actually do,” Staff said. “I have learned many facts that I, personally, didn’t know and it is important for the younger generation to be able to discover the importance of Arbor Day and the state’s plant life.”