PPL Electric Utilities is giving away trees.

The utility company is donating trees to local and municipal governments, schools and organizations with an environmental focus through its new Community Roots program.

On Sept. 13 representatives from the company along with staff members of the Wildlands Conservancy planted trees at the Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, Emmaus, one of the Wildlands Conservancy sites, to open the program.

Chris Kocher, president of the Wildlands Conservancy, described the program as an effort to “create the next generation of environmental stewards” in a brief interview at the site.

The program donated 150 trees to the Wildlands Conservancy. More than three dozen of the trees were planted recently in the urban/suburban forest section of the Pool Wildlife Sanctuary and along the sensory trail there. The trail provides a safe place for those who are blind or otherwise visually impaired to experience nature. The trail includes interactive stations written in large print and braille.

Three native tree species are offered through the program; sugar maple, serviceberry and Eastern redbud. The program will accept orders for spring 2018 and fall 2018 planting through the website www.pplcommunityroots.com.

Patrick Renshaw, environmental project manager for PPL Electric Utilities, described the program as a way to “help beautify the community.”

The program is open to communities, schools and organizations within the PPL service territory.

Trees will be available as seedlings in bare root, gallon container and ball root formats.

Elementary schools are encouraged to apply to the program as are county and local municipalities.

PPL Electric Utilities is working with several nurseries in central and eastern Pennsylvania to supply the trees, according to Joe Nixon, strategic communications manager for the utility company. Quantities of the trees are limited.