Rutland Students Participate in American Chestnut Tree Restoration Project
Students in Rutland, Vermont, are actively involved in a conservation effort to restore the American chestnut tree, a species that was once prevalent in the region but was nearly eradicated by blight. At Mount St. Joseph Academy, nine chestnut trees serve as a living classroom for students, who have been tending to the grove for the past five years as part of their biology classes. Tom Estill, a local resident and educator, has been instrumental in guiding these students. Their tasks include planting, spraying to deter deer, and fertilizing the trees. Seeds cultivated at Mount St. Joseph Academy are subsequently planted at six other schools within Vermont, and Estill has personally planted seeds at over 80 schools across the state, including Rutland High School’s Allen Street campus.
