Allegany County Forestry Board- Maryland

06/02/2026

Thank you to all of the fifth grade students who created beautiful posters for the Maryland Arbor Day poster contest. The theme this year was “Trees Are Terrific…and Color Our World!”

1st place – Abigail Friend
2nd place – Aurora Cifuentes
3rd place – Violet Call

Thank you to all who participated and we look forward to seeing more posters next year!

05/29/2026

This Saturday! Forest Medicine and Tree Tending Workshop at Gene Mason Sports Complex from 2-4pm! Register here: https://linktr.ee/WildPotomacinCumberland

05/14/2026

Join this workshop to learn about how to tend to trees, assess their health, and make some basic medicines from them.
On Saturday, May 30th from 2-4pm at Gene Mason Sports Complex, Wild Potomac is joined by herbalist Emma Taylor from High Bridge Herbs and arborist David Yake to lead a workshop about how we can tend to the trees around us, and be tended to by them ourselves. Reserve a spot here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/all-about-tree-care-tree-tending-101-making-tree-medicine-tickets-1987512496379?aff=ebdssbcategorybrowse

05/05/2026

Congratulations and well deserved Melissa!

📰: Maryland Forester Melissa Nash Named National Outstanding Tree Farm Inspector of the Year

“Melissa has a heart for helping landowners, practicing good forestry, and building partnerships,” Maryland State Forester Anne Hairston-Strang said. “We are very proud that she has received this recognition; she is a real credit to DNR and public service in Maryland.”

Read the full press release: https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2026/05/04/maryland-forester-melissa-nash-named-national-outstanding-tree-farm-inspector-of-the-year/

03/26/2026

Fantastic work Champ! Learn more about the Liberty Tree below!

03/24/2026

The Williams Road brush fire incident from yesterday is contained at this time. Forestry will continue to monitor the fire. Smoke will still be seen for several days.

02/05/2026

Backyard Buffer Program Now Open!

EDIT: As of 3/13/26 this year's program is full. Those who have requested trees will receive an email with pickup information once staff knows when trees will arrive from the nursery. If you missed out this time please check back in February 2027 for next year!

Landowners with a stream, pond, ditch, wet area or other waterway on their property may request a free packet of bare root seedlings to plant on their property. This year's species are swamp white oak, red maple, American plum, river birch and hazelnut and each packet will contain 25 trees (5 of each species). Reservations for this year will be accepted until March 13 or when the program reaches capacity. Trees will be available for pickup in early to mid-April. Exact pickup details TBD depending on when trees arrive from the nursery. Those who have requested trees will be contacted in late March or early April with pickup information.

Online sign up is strongly preferred https://forms.gle/RGfXHBcJ5AhEabnw8 . If you are unable to sign up using the Google form, contact the Garrett County MD Forest Service Office at 301-334-3296 or email [email protected].

01/31/2026

It’s time for the 2026 5th grade Arbor Day poster contest! This year’s theme is “Trees are terrific… and color our world!”
In Allegany County, the Forestry Board gives out great cash prizes! Don't forget to fill out the release form found here: https://dnr.maryland.gov/forests/Pages/Arbor-Day-Poster-Contest.aspx

04/12/2025

Members of the Allegany County Forestry Board had a great time educating 6th graders about careers in forestry at Washington Middle School! Sarah Gattens Llewellyn Marie Perrin Miller Adam Miller

03/31/2025

This early March wildfire in Allegany County started when numerous slash piles from a private timber harvest ignited, prompting Maryland Forest Service responders to call-in a bulldozer to quickly contain the blaze's spread. Utilizing heavy equipment greatly reduced the amount of time, water, and effort it would have taken to extinguish the large slash piles. Firefighters from the Orleans Volunteer Fire Department - many of whom were dressed for their annual banquet that evening - came to aid the efforts and were still able to make their special event. We greatly appreciate and respect our volunteers' willingness to selflessly serve the community, so we aim to assist them as much as possible in return.