Members of the public are invited to participate in the Country Parks Hiking and Planting Day to be jointly held by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and Friends of the Country Parks on two Sundays in April.
 
     The dates and locations of the tree planting days are as follows:
 
April 9     Near a roundabout on Golden Hill Road, Kam Shan Country Park
April 23   Tai Lam Chung Country Trail, Tai Lam Country Park
 
     An AFCD spokesman said today (March 17), "People who wish to participate should enroll in person at the registration point from 9am to 10.30am. Due to limited planting space, enrolment will close once the quota is full. The AFCD will provide seedlings and planting tools.
 
     "The activities are to promote public involvement in countryside conservation work and enhance awareness of nature conservation and tree preservation."
 
     The spokesman reminded participants to select an appropriate planting site taking into account their physical ability and hiking experience, as the time needed to go to the planting sites varies from about one hour to one and half hours including an uphill walk.
 
     Details of the activities and registration points are available on the AFCD's website: www.natureintouch.gov.hk/outdoor/activity/nit_2011/0/745.
 
     Seedlings for the tree planting activities were raised in the AFCD's tree nursery at Tai Tong, Yuen Long. The AFCD has been planting local species to enhance the biodiversity and ecological value of country parks in recent years. About 400 000 tree seedlings were planted in country parks last year by the public, various organisations and country park staff.
 
     For enquiries about the Country Parks Hiking and Planting Day, please call 2786 2955 or email nature@afcd.gov.hk.

Ends/Friday, March 17, 2017
Issued at HKT 11:01

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