HOLDREGE, Nebraska -- In celebration of Arbor Day on Friday, April 30, Tri-Basin Natural Resources District (TBNRD) will give away free tree seedlings to district residents.

Planting a tree or shrub is always a good idea -- during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is an act of faith in the future. In Holdrege, the event will be held at the Tri-Basin NRD office at 1723 Burlington Street and will be hosted by the NRD in cooperation with the Holdrege Municipal Tree Board. District residents are invited to stop by any of the locations throughout the district to pick up their free tree or shrub seedling. Giveaway locations are:

- Elwood - NRCS - 10 a.m.

- Bertrand - First State Bank - 10 a.m.

- Minden - Chautauqua Park - 3 p.m.

- Loomis - Village Office - 10 a.m.

- Axtell - Community Building - 9 a.m.

- Holdrege - TBNRD - 9:30 a.m.

Available tree species may include American elm, lilac, swamp white oak, hackberry, American hazelnut, crabapple, Kentucky coffeetree, Colorado blue spruce, Russian almond, red oak, sugar maple, bur oak, and red osier dogwood.

Part of the mission of Tri-Basin NRD is to promote tree planting as a good conservation practice with benefits for people and wildlife. Tri-Basin NRD plants trees for rural landowners when they need windbreaks and shelterbelts. The NRD also promotes “urban forestry” through support for Arbor Day celebrations across the district, in cooperation with local municipal tree boards.

For more information, contact the Tri-Basin NRD office at 1-877-995-6688 or 308-995-6688.