Originally 2,700 trees were planted through a community conservation grant given to them by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Potomac Conservancy. The trees were initially planted in an attempt to repair the forest that was demolished when the school was built 10 years ago.

However, last June when school was not in session, more than 200 of the trees that the students at Windsor Knolls Middle School took care in planting were destroyed.

The students were eager to replant the trees and three local landscape contractors stepped in to help. Metzscapes of Ijamsiville, Md. volunteered to augur the holes. Federick Area Landscape Contractors (FALCON) donated $1,000 to pay for some of the cost of replacing the trees and Phillips Landscape Contractors of Laytonsville, Md. donated bottled water and the tools necessary to complete the task.

?EUR??,,????'??We were mad because it took us a long time to do that and then they got destroyed,?EUR??,,????'?? said eight-grader Erica Wildberger.

?EUR??,,????'??But it?EUR??,,????'???s still fun to do again,?EUR??,,????'?? said classmate Shea Ulisney.

The name of the program is Schoolyard Habitat, and it gave them a chance to be involved in the county’s environmental project. The students also earned community service hours, said Lori Saylor, Windsor Knolls social studies teacher and project coordinator. The project helps teach students about stream and forest ecosystems, a valuable part of their science course.

Ms. Saylor said that the reforestation of Bennett Creek and the Monocacy Watershed has been going on for the past five years. The Potomac Conservancy has a Growing Native program, which collects seeds of native Maryland plants to be planted in restoration areas. Elderberry, sycamore, willow oak, pin oak and swamp white oak were some of the trees that the
students planted.

The director of restoration for the Potomac Conservancy showed the students how to plant the small saplings in the holes, ?EUR??,,????'??Make sure to pat it down, if there are air pockets on the sides, the tree will dry out and die,?EUR??,,????'?? he explained.

The students were anxious to get started and they grabbed gloves and one of 215 potted trees and separated to plant them. The new trees were bigger than the saplings they had previously planted, so they would grow to be about the same size as the ones that survived the vandalism, said Bryan Seipp, director of restoration for the new Potomac Conservancy.

The Sheriff?EUR??,,????'???s Office for Frederick County has yet to make any arrests in the case, however the investigation still continues. Since the vandals were riding ATVs, Dutrow?EUR??,,????'???s Sales and Service, KT Motor Sports and Fredericktown Yamaha are offering a joint reward of $500 for tips that lead to prosecution of the culprits.

Source: Frederick News-Post

200: The approximate number of trees at Windsor Knolls Middle School destroyed by vandals.

5,000: Dollars, the estimated cost of the 200 damaged trees.
Source: Maryland Community Newspapers

1,000: Dollars, the amount of money donated by the Maryland Landscape Contractors Association to pay for the replacement trees.
Source: Frederick News-Post