The story of the restoration project to bring back the American chestnut tree will be presented at the Botetourt Community Partnership (BCP) quarterly meeting Wednesday, May 30 at 9 a.m. in the Fincastle Library Meeting Room.

The public is invited to attend BCP meetings. Complimentary refreshments will be available beginning at 8:45 a.m.

Master Arborist Carl Absher will be traveling from Blacksburg to share the story of this epic restoration effort to restore the American chestnut, once the glory of the Appalachian mountains. Absher is a member of the Virginia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation which helped establish a test orchard at the Catawba Sustainability Center in Catawba.

American chestnut trees used to make up about one-fourth of hardwood forests in the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains. Their nuts were a critical food source for wildlife in the winter, and the wood was used for a variety of purposes on farms and buildings.

But a blight that came with imports wiped out the trees in the early-to-mid 20th Century, although some still survive long enough to produce nuts.

It’s those nuts and years of cultivating and cross breeding that provide hope for the restoration effort.

The BCP provides an opportunity to meet local residents who care about the natural world around them, to learn more about Botetourt’s natural resources, agricultural vitality and cultural heritage. For information and questions, email genevieve@valleyconservation.org.