Volunteers wanting to help restore trees to a wildfire-ravaged state park in Central Texas will get the chance this weekend.
Tree experts have spent the past year nurturing thousands of seedlings for Bastrop State Park, about 30 miles east of Austin. Historic wildfires in 2011 claimed about 95 percent of the area's trees, including most of the 6,600-acre park's signature "Lost Pines."
The Texas A&M Forest Service says drought-hardy loblolly pine seedlings plus other associated varieties are being delivered this week to the park.
The first volunteer planting workday is Saturday. Forestry officials say a total of 550,000 seedlings will be planted in Bastrop State Park over the next few months.
Various private companies and nonprofits are proving funding for the program in this first year.
