Galen & Rhonda Kenyon honored for tree planting

Galen and Rhonda Kenyon. Photo from Washtenaw County Conservation District Annual Newsletter.

A Manchester Township couple, Galen and Rhonda Kenyon, were honored for their tree conservation on the evening of January 19th at the Washtenaw County Conservation Distrct’s Annual Meeting.

The Washtenaw Conservation District reports that the Kenyons planted 700 trees in 1991 when they first bought their 80-acre Manchester property, found it overwhelming, and took a tree-planting hiatus until 2007. But, since that time they have planted almost 1,200 trees obtained from the Washtenaw County Conservation District, as well as seedlings and larger trees from other sources, for a total of approximately 4,000 trees on their property and Galen’s brother’s adjoining property.

According to the Washtenaw Conservation District, “The Kenyons’ planting efforts have been to restore native habitats, for aesthetics and for reforestation. Their long term goal is to create an arboretum and nature preserve. They have also been removing invasive species and replanting with native trees.”

It was because of their consistent, long-term tree planting efforts, and overall stewardship ethic, that the Conservation District chose to award Galen and Rhonda Kenyon the 2016 Tree Conservationist Award.

Galen and Rhonda Kenyon accepting the 2016 Tree Conservationist of the Year award for Washtenaw County. Photo courtesy of Dennis Rice.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.