Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Siwanoy Elementary School PTA. The Pelham Examiner publishes press releases in the form received as a service to the community.
This fall, Siwanoy Elementary School will introduce a 150-square-foot microforest, a pioneering project that will engage students in forest stewardship while enhancing local biodiversity. The initiative is in partnership with Westchester-based ecological landscaping company, Plan It Wild, and aims to create a lasting environmental impact.
Siwanoy students will have the opportunity to participate in planting native species, learn the fundamentals of forest stewardship, and track the project’s long-term effects by collecting data on increases in biodiversity, stormwater capture, and carbon sequestration over time.
“This project is a wonderful way to involve students in hands-on environmental learning while improving our local ecosystem,” said Maddy Mercer, PTA President. “We hope it inspires other schools and communities to take similar action.”
The Siwanoy PTA is proud to support the project, which will grow native plants that thrive with minimal care, improve the local environment, and contribute to climate resilience. By diversifying the school’s landscaping in an educational and beautiful way, the microforest will serve as a living outdoor classroom for years to come.
To further support this initiative, a native plant sale will be held at Siwanoy Elementary’s Back-to-School Picnic on Thursday, September 12th from 5:30pm at the Siwanoy playground. Families can choose from a variety of shrubs and take advantage of the special offer: “Buy one shrub for the microforest and take one home to plant in your yard!” This sale presents a great opportunity for families to contribute to the microforest while also cultivating native plants at home.
“We encourage the community to join us in this effort to create a more resilient and biodiverse environment,” said Anna Simonsen-Meehan, Siwanoy’s Outdoor Classroom Expert.
Through spreading awareness of this initiative, Siwanoy hopes to inspire other nearby communities to replicate similar projects and take positive steps toward environmental stewardship.
For more information about the initiative or to get involved, please contact Anna Simonsen Meehan at [email protected].
