Bringing back the American chestnut

The American chestnut, once a dominate hardwood in the eastern woodland from Maine to Florida that was the single most important food source for a variety of wildlife from bears to birds was virtually wiped out by a fungus infection during the first half of the 20th century. The blight killed an estimated four billion trees. But thanks to The American Chestnut Foundation founded in 1983, blight resistant strains of the tree are being developed. And at least 50 of those trees are in Warwick. Mayor Scott Avedisian recently joined Doug Rademacher of Warwick and a foundation member at City Park, where he planted 10 trees. Another 40 trees have been planted in Buttonwoods. (Warwick Beacon photo)