NEWS RELEASE
DATE: 5 October 2005
CONTACT: Katie Lawhon (717) 334-1124, ext. 452

Peach Orchard Project Begins
13 More Orchards to Be Planted This Fall

Visitors to Gettysburg National Military Park are seeing drastic changes at the Sherfy Peach Orchard this week after the National Park Service, working together with the "Friends of the National Parks at Gettysburg", removed the dead and dying trees at the orchard, to begin a two-year process to plant a new peach orchard.

Tree removal in the Peach Orchard on October 4. (National Park Service)

On October 4, contractors removed all 89 trees in the orchard, which had been planted in 1979. Before new trees can be planted however, a cover crop will be grown at the site for two years to rid the area of harmful nematodes, a parasitic worm that feeds on roots. Cover crops of rapeseed and mustard are an environmentally friendly way to rid the orchard site of nematodes.

In our continuing efforts to bring back missing features on the Gettysburg battlefield that affected the fighting in 1863, the park is also planting 30 acres of orchards this fall at thirteen historic orchard sites at Gettysburg: Rose, Rose North, H. Spangler, Rogers, Codori East, Frey South, McPherson, Forney South, Forney House, Hagey East, Hagey West, G. Weikert North, and G. Weikert South.

Additional Background on the Peach Orchard Project

The National Park Service cares for special places saved
by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA

National Park Service
Gettysburg National Military Park
97 Taneytown Road
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325

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