Volunteers needed on hiking trail

GRANTSVILLE — Groups of youths and adults are needed to help keep the Big Savage Hiking Trail free of vegetation and debris, according to Savage River State Forest Manager Larry Maxim.

The 17-mile Garrett County trail covers more ground than the forest’s four employees can keep clear, Maxim said.

The forest will provide hand tools to any groups that are willing to “adopt” a portion of the trail, which runs from St. John’s Rock near Finzel to Savage River Reservoir near Bloomington.

The volunteers would be asked to clear their portion of the trail and to repaint the white blazes that mark the trail if needed.

For more information or to volunteer, call Maxim at (301) 895-5759.

Grants available for planting trees

CUMBERLAND — The Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee is offering grants for public land plantings and educational projects for the fall. The committee will award up to $1,500 to towns, homeowner associations, parks, schools and other groups actively involved in environmental tree activities.

Grant applications must be signed by a local forestry board member and postmarked by Sept. 15.

Interested groups can download the grant application at www.dnr.maryland.gov/forests/programs/urban/grantapp.pdf. For more information, contact a local state forestry office or Wanda MacLachlan at (410) 531-5973, e-mail: wtm@umd.edu. A list of local forestry offices can be found at www.dnr.maryland.gov/forests/art/county_map.asp.