The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) recently awarded tree planting grants to 14 communities within LENRD. Bancroft is one of the communities that received tree planting funds through the LENRD's Community Forestry Grant. The John G. Neihardt Historic Site in Bancroft received $3,112.50 that will go towards removing two large dead trees and replacing them with 11 new trees and one shrub to improve the grounds at the Neihardt Site. Neihardt Foundation President Dr. Jon Cerny applied for this grant and will be in charge of coordinating this project from start to finish. A total of $33,199.50 was awarded to 14 communities within the LENRD for tree plantings that will take place in 2017.
"Nebraska is the 'Tree Planter State' after all," states Pam Bergstrom, Forester for the LENRD, who helped design the Bancroft Project. "Planting trees, especially when you plant a diverse selection of trees, improves the towns aesthetic features and it has been proven that towns with a good 'community forest' are shown to have a positive appeal to guests and folks who call that community home will find they are not as stressed as their counterparts who occupy communities that lack a healthy community forest."
"This project will improve the landscaping surrounding the John G. Neihardt Historic Site," according to Dr. Cerny. The improvement project will include the removal of one large dead Cottonwood and one large dead Maple tree. Eleven new trees planted will include two Amur Maple single stem, one Amur Maple clump, a Crabapple, a Burr Oak, a Sycamore, a Coffeetree, a Swamp White Oak, a Japanese Lilac, a Cottonwood, and a Linden. The shrub will be a Serviceberry.
The Neihardt Site has lost several shade trees recently. This project will increase shade and improve the appearance of the grounds.
