Cheltenham Township will receive a $14,000 grant for a community tree planting initiative, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) announced today.

The grant is to be used to replace trees lost due to age, disease, and storm damage, and is a partnership between local Tree Tenders and the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership. 

The grant is part of a volume of funding across Southeastern Pennsylvania intended to support community-led tree planting and restoration projects via the Trees for Watersheds program. Trees for Watersheds provides funding, technical assistance, and hands-on support to help communities plan and carry out planting projects in priority watershed areas. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Growing Greener grant program and Aqua Pennsylvania contributed more than $276,000 toward the grants.

“Aqua has been proud to partner on this program for more than 20 years,” said Krista Seng, Aqua’s lead for corporate giving and community affairs. “We know that restoring our native forests has a significant impact on the quality of our waterways, which we rely on to provide safe drinking water for our customers. Through partnerships like these, we’re investing in local watersheds and empowering communities to safeguard clean, reliable water for generations to come.” 

Trees for Watersheds has helped expand tree canopy, restore habitats, and strengthen watershed health in five counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia. Since its launch in 2005, the program has supported the planting of more than 240,000 native trees, shrubs, and seedlings across over 1,200 acres in Southeastern Pennsylvania.  

“These projects reflect the power of local action to protect and restore our natural resources,” said Matt Rader, President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. “By investing in trees and community partnerships, we’re improving water quality, strengthening ecosystems, and creating healthier communities.” 

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