SANFORD — The public is invited to a walk to the experimental chestnut planting at Sanford’s Town Farm on Wednesday, May 21.
The walk begins at 6:30 p.m. at McDougal Orchards parking lot and will last about an hour. The round trip will cover about two-thirds of a mile. Comfortable footwear and insect repellent are advised.
This planting, established by the Sanford Springvale Mousam Way Land Trust with the help of Sanford Junior High School students in the fall of 2012, is the first step in returning the American chestnut to the forest. The purpose of the planting is to identify a blight-resistant hybrid that is reliably hardy in this area.
Prior to decimation by the blight fungus, chestnuts were an important food for humans, farm animals and wildlife. It also was a very valuable timber tree for furniture and building construction, said botanist Gordon “Bud” Johnston.
Following the walk, refreshments will be served and a short annual meeting will be held.
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