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Read the press release here.

Take Home a Free Tree at Brooklyn's Green Spaces Giveaways

 The New York Restoration Project is offering hundreds of free trees at 18 Brooklyn locations this spring.
The New York Restoration Project is offering hundreds of free trees at 18 Brooklyn locations this spring.
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New York Restoration Project

BROOKLYN — Hundreds of new trees will soon be taking root in Brooklyn.

As part of the New York Restoration Project’s annual giveaway, residents have the chance to pick up a free tree this spring at 18 spots throughout the borough.

“We’re connecting people to nature without having to pull them out of the city,” said Mike Duran-Mitchell, Director of Urban Forestry at the NYRP. “These giveaways will make sure the entire city is healthier from an individual level to the larger scale.”

From March through May, each event will offer four to five varieties for aspiring arborists who will learn how to plant and care for the trees.

The organization is doling out more than 55 different species throughout the city, including Lindens, Birches, Eastern Redbuds and Au Rosa plum trees.

Participants can sign up online or register in person and can take home the freebies as long as they agree to plant in one of the five boroughs and maintain and water the trees. Planting cannot be done along streets, in city parks, containers, terraces, balconies or roofs.

Caretakers are encouraged to make homes for their new saplings in locations such as yards, community gardens and church grounds, Duran-Mitchell said.

Last year, the NYRP gave out more than 16,000 trees citywide through the Million Trees Initiative.

Check out this month’s Brooklyn giveaway locations:

Saturday, March 21

► 2925 Neptune Ave.
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Host: Friends of Kaiser Park Inc., Office of Councilmember Mark Treyger

Sunday, March 22

► 2 Second Ave., The Salt Lot
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Host: Gowanus Canal Conservancy

► 1702 Mermaid Ave.
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Host: Brooklyn Community Services

Saturday, March 28

► 990 Washington Avenue, Parking lot
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Host: Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Sunday, March 29

► 120 Jefferson St.
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Host: El Garden

For more information, visit the NYRP website