The Florida Forest Service donated nine trees to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Escambia County Extension office for their tree identification walking trail at the IFAS offices in Cantonment.
Each tree is in a 7- or 3-gallon pot and include river birch, American beech, loblolly bay, spruce pine, water hickory, winged elm, sand pine, Florida maple, and sassafras. Approximately 35 species have been planted along this trail in the past three years, all of which are native to Florida. Additional species already growing prior to trail installation can be seen on Extension property on the disc golf course, along the trail, and in the gardens.
Having this large variety of trees in one place essentially gives Escambia County its own arboretum highlighting Florida native species. The trail has been used to teach tree identification classes to both FFA and 4H groups preparing for forestry competitions. Each tree is labeled, so people explore the many different species of trees that can grow in northwest Florida. It is great resource for arborists or landscapers brushing up on their skills, homeowners looking for ideas for trees to plant in their yards, or outdoor enthusiasts who want to know what they are looking at when engaging in their favorite outdoor activity.
The trail is part of a larger outdoor education and recreation project located at the Escambia Extension office (3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, FL), which includes a nearly 1-mile walking trail loop, nine-hole disc golf course, and the tree trail. The publicly accessible walking trail was built and funded by Escambia County in 2018. Once the trail was in place, new trees were planted to provide shade and education. Funding for the original tree plantings and signage were provided by a grant from International Paper, while the design and installation of the disc golf course were funded by the Escambia County 4-H Foundation. The popular facility is open to members of the public during daylight hours.
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects wildfire on more than 26 million acres. Learn more at FDACS.gov/FLForestService.
