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- The Rocks
Nigel Manley, director of North Country property for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, traveled to the White House in Washington DC on April 10 to be recognized by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden on behalf of the Joining Forces Campaign. A national initiative to support and honor America's service members and their families, the Joining Forces Campaign was launched in April 2011 by Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden.
In New Hampshire, Manley is best known for his role as director of the Rocks Estate in Bethlehem, where the Forest Society manages a successful cut-your-own Christmas tree farm. However, he also chairs the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation (CSF), which runs the Trees for Troops program.
“It’s an honor to be part of this organization,” said Manley. “I personally find the Trees for Troops program to be a very rewarding way that farmers can give back to men and women who are giving their all for their country.”
In January, Trees for Troops submitted an application to the Joining Forces campaign. Out of 300 applicants, 20 organizations were selected to be voted on by the public via the Joining Forces campaign website. At the end of the voting period, Trees for Troops came in at fourth place.
Since 2005 Trees for Troops has delivered more than 103,100 trees to military families. More than 700 Christmas tree growers from across the United States, including the Rocks Estate, participate in the program. Last year alone, more than 19,200 real Christmas trees were shipped to more than 65 military bases throughout the United States and overseas.
“We are honored to be invited and to be among such great military organizations,” said Amy Mills, assistant executive director of CSF.
Owned by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, the landmark 1,400-acre Rocks Estate includes numerous buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, extensive walking paths, and 45 acres planted with Christmas trees. For more information and a full schedule of events, please visit www.therocks.org.
Founded in 1901, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is the state’s oldest and largest non-profit land conservation organization. Supported by 10,000 families and businesses, the Forest Society’s mission is to perpetuate the state’s forests by promoting land conservation and sustainable forestry. For more information, visit www.forestsociety.org.