Planting trees in Hillside Park was really fun, and not only fun, it was also important. The land for Hillside Park was originally donated to the city by John Sprunt Hill. In 1922, the Hillside Park High School was built, and on the opposite side of the park, the Algonquin Club was built. We were making trees in the Third Fork Creek Watershed, which means that all water here drains to Third Fork Creek.

We planted the trees because trees help clean the watershed, so people get clean, healthy water. Trees also help to provide shade on sunny days. And of course, trees help provide oxygen. Planting trees is really fun. Keep Durham Beautiful helped us and gave us supplies to work with. First, you dig a hole, which was hard because the dirt was like clay. Then you have to put the tree in the hole and cover it up with the dirt you dug out, and lastly, you add mulch to the ground around the tree. I planted a Red Bug tree. I hope I can see it when it grows up. I was in group one, so I planted trees in the morning (there was no rain). After we planted trees we went back to school and made posters about trees I got to do a poster about facts of trees, my partner was Charlotte, she is a great partner and drawer. I learned a lot of cool facts, like “the oldest tree in the world is 4,855 years old.” It was a wonderful experience. I hope I get to plant a tree again.