CAYUGA HEIGHTS, N.Y. (WENY) -- Every year, the last Friday in April marks Arbor Day, and on April 25, communities across the region celebrated. In Cayuga Heights, village forester Fred Cowett coordinated a tree planting and tree seedling giveaway event. 

The village is one of over 3,500 recognized Tree Cities recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation in the United States. In the Twin Tiers, other Tree Cities include Bath, Hornell, Penn Yan, West Elmira, Ithaca, and Dryden in New York. In Pennsylvania, Mansfield, Wellsboro, Athens, and Canton join the list.

As part of the Tree City program, the cities are required to plant a tree and host a celebration.

This year, the Village of Cayuga Heights planted a flowering dogwood tree outside of Village Hall.

Along with the planting, Cowett also gave away 29 tree seedlings to members of the community to plant near their homes.

"I think when people actually get their hands on a seedling and actually plant it, there's a certain attachment that comes with it," said Cowett. "They take ownership of it, and that's great, because then people actually care about trees, and that's kind of what this is all about that people should care about trees."

The seedling giveaway in Cayuga Heights isn't over just yet.


If you'd like to pick up a seedling, you can head over to the village hall once more on Sunday from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. The trees are free, come with instructions, and you have your pick between red maple, sugar maple, paper birch, and swamp white oak.