Join us for a hands-on Ash Seed Collection Workshop, the third event in The Ash Tree Stewardship & Education Program, a four-part series of educational walks designed to raise public awareness and encourage stewardship of ash trees. Ash trees are vital to the health of our forests and hold deep cultural significance for the Wabanaki people, who have long relied on Brown Ash for basket making. Today, ash trees are critically threatened by the invasive emerald ash borer beetle. 
 
During this workshop, we’ll go over ash tree identification and seed-collection techniques and equipment before hiking off-trail into the floodplain forest. There, we will search for seed-bearing ash trees and split into groups to collect seeds together. Binoculars are recommended for spotting seed clusters high in the canopy, and long pants are encouraged, as there may be some poison ivy. 
 
This event is co-hosted by the Wild Seed Project, Royal River Conservation Trust, and Royal River Conservation Trust, and is part of the larger statewide efforts of the Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik (APCAW). Each walk in the series will equip participants with practical skills they can apply in their own forests and communities to help protect and preserve ash in Maine. 
 
Parking for Dunn's Depot Trail is available at the Town of North Yarmouth's Route 9 boat launch site (512 Memorial Highway), next to Old Town House Park. Once the lot is full, park along the shoulder of Route 9, on the same side of the road as the boat launch. Click here for GPS Address. Carpooling is encouraged!