Save Our Forest volunteers celebrate group's achievements

FALLBROOK – Supporters of the Fallbrook Land Conservancy’s Save Our Forest committee gathered at the Palomares House for their annual “Party/Party” celebration at the Palomares House.

It marked the 25th year since the group’s first tree planting on Live Oak Park Road and surrounding streets in the winter of 1992-1993, which included locations from East Mission Road to Reche Road and southeast on Reche to Via Zara. The 165 oak trees included 65 trees planted on the southeast slope of Live Oak Park.

Almost 2,700 trees have been planted by the group through state grant funds for Urban Forestry. Those grant funds total $243,000 acquired since 1995.

Save Our Forest volunteers work at two work parties a month who work all over town, and have several tree stewards who individually water and maintain a tree or trees maintain.

Donations provide funds for supplies and other expenses which include professional pruning at least once annually, and a part time employee for areas not suitable for volunteers to work.

Like old friends often do, reliving those events was great fun for those still around, and a bit of history for the newcomers to the group.

Jackie Heyneman, one of the original members, spoke reminding all present that Fallbrook is an unincorporated community, making volunteers so very important, and to reminisce and point out some of the various areas of community service that the group oversees.

These are being part of the San Diego County Adopt-A-Road project (litter clearing) for Old 395 from 76 to E. Mission and the Environmental Education Program working with all five elementary schools in Fallbrook to nurture and plant native plants in the FLC preserves.

Heyneman emphasized that educating youth to recognize the need to maintain the qualities of a healthful, green and rural Fallbrook is vital to its future and theirs. These very qualities offer a lifestyle sought by many.

There is an urgent need for new volunteers to help with this huge project. Folks willing to help by serving on the governing group of Save Our Forest committee, or any of the other areas of community service, can go to the Fallbrook Land Conservancy or Save Our Forest website to sign up to help with the care of our community forest, http://www.fallbrooklandconservancy.org/ or http://www.fallbrooklandconservancy.org.

Press release submitted by Save Our Forest.