The Growing With Trees Committee is designating October 23 as the first Cedar Berry Collection Day.

Growing With Trees is a Millennium campaign which was established earlier this year to work with Government, schools, families, individuals, businesses and other organisations to plant more trees, in particular, the Bermuda cedar.

In 1946, a scale insect destroyed 96 percent of the cedar population in Bermuda. Cedar trees are a vital part of the environment as a food source for the insects, mammals and birds of Bermuda.

However, over the last ten years, the Bermuda cedar has developed a resistance to the disease and has been making a comeback.

Growing With Trees is seeking the support of the public in collecting cedar berries, which are bluish purple in colour.

Members of the public have two options for the replanting of the cedar berries. They can collect cedar berries from healthy Bermuda cedars growing on their property and: Drop off the berries at Tulo Valley Nursery or the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The berries will then be sown and planted at locations selected by the Committee; or Sow and replant their own cedar berries.

The Parks Department will be holding a seminar on November 6 at 8 a.m. at the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo which will outline the proper handling, sowing as well as selecting appropriate locations for planting cedars.

The Growing With Trees Campaign is sponsored by the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Works and Engineering, Department of Parks and Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited.

For further information contact Keanya Francis at the Bermuda Aquarium on 293-2727.