The Highlands at Wyomissing® is joining an ambitious statewide effort to plant 10 million trees throughout Pennsylvania by the end of 2025.
The Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, coordinated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, brings together a broad array of agencies, conservation groups, outdoors enthusiasts, businesses, and individuals to address a critical threat to Pennsylvania communities: polluted water.
Roughly 40,000 miles of Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams are impaired by polluted runoff and the legacy of coal mining, including the Schuylkill River.
Trees are a key part of the solution. They filter and absorb polluted runoff from the land, stabilize streambanks, improve soil quality, reduce flooding, and provide habitat for wildlife.
Employees from The Highlands at Wyomissing, with the help of the resident Grounds and Maintenance Committee, will be planting trees on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 8-10 a.m. in support of Ten Million Trees for Pennsylvania.
“Trees, especially when alongside streams and streets, are one of the most cost-effective ways to restore and protect stream health, help keep nutrients and soils on the land, and cleanse drinking water sources,” said Harry Campbell, CBF Executive Director in Pennsylvania. “More trees benefit our farmers, our communities, and our health and welfare.”
“Planting trees is an opportunity for us to do our part to protect and enrich our local environment while enhancing the natural aesthetic of our destination retirement home,” said Kevin DeAcosta, President and CEO of The Highlands at Wyomissing, “The Highlands has a beautiful 113-acre campus, and environmental stewardship is something we take very seriously as we want to maintain that beauty for many years to come.”
The partnership will help achieve Pennsylvania’s commitment to reduce pollution in local streams and rivers. The Commonwealth’s Clean Water Blueprint calls for planting 95,000 acres of forest in the Bay watershed by the end of 2025.
“Clean rivers and streams are essential to our well-being,” said Brenda Sieglitz, CBF Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership Manager. “By working together to plant 10 million trees, we can ensure our waterways are a vibrant part of our communities for years to come.”
To learn more about the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, visit www.TenMillionTrees.org.
For more than 30 years, The Highlands at Wyomissing has remained the only senior living community in Berks County to offer a Type A life care contract. The Highlands is a Continuing Care Retirement Community that sets the standard of excellence in retirement living by providing exceptional quality of life, security, and value. The Highlands allows its residents to maintain active lifestyles with peace of mind for the future. This non-profit organization is focused on transforming the senior experience. For more information about The Highlands at Wyomissing, visit www.thehighlands.org.
