UNIVERSITY PARK,
Pa. -- Do you have woods in your backyard? Penn State research estimates that
nearly half a million Pennsylvanians own a small patch of woodland -- something
less than 10 acres in size. In fact, the vast majority of Pennsylvania
landowners have fewer than 10 acres. These small patches add up to about a
million acres, or about 10 percent of our state’s privately held woodlands.
The "Woods in Your Backyard" webinar series
teaches land stewardship through nine live, one-hour, online evening lectures
that can be viewed on your home computer. Sessions
run from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday nights for nine weeks beginning January
29, 2020. All lectures are recorded and can be viewed later if a live session
is missed.
Sponsored by Penn
State Extension and the Center for Private Forests, the University of Maryland
Extension, DCNR Bureau of Forestry, and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay:
Forests for the Bay Program, the webinar series is designed specifically,
but not exclusively, for smaller landscapes. These small lots, whether wooded
or not, can provide numerous benefits. By enhancing wooded areas or
creating natural areas on your property, you can enjoy wildlife, recreation,
aesthetics, improved water quality and reduced energy costs. Owners of even the smallest landscapes can make a positive
difference in their environment through planning and implementing simple
stewardship practices.
The
workshop series introduces the manual, “The
Woods in Your Backyard: Learning to Create and Enhance Natural Areas Around
Your Home.” All participants will receive the full-color, 108-page publication,
a $29 value. This self-directed book will guide you through the process of
developing and implementing projects to enhance your land’s natural resources.
Topics covered in the webinars will include the following:
·
Woods and healthy watersheds.
·
Tree and shrub identification.
·
Providing and enhancing wildlife habitat.
·
Forest ecology and soils.
·
Woodlot management techniques.
·
Invasive plant identification and control.
·
Converting open land to meadows and woods.
·
Providing edible fruits and nuts and other ways to
diversity your woods.
For more information
and to register, visit the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/woods-in-your-backyard-webinar-series
or call 877-345-0691. The
registration deadline is Saturday, January 18, 2020.
###
EDITORS: For more information, contact Vinnie
Cotrone (570-602-0600, vjc1@psu.edu) or Dave Jackson (814-355-4897,
drj11@psu.edu).
