The Hemlock Festival is brought to you by the Lumpkin Coalition. They are a group of diverse and wonderful volunteers united by a common commitment to preserve nature in Lumpkin County and throughout north Georgia. Proceeds from the Hemlock Festival are donated to organizations dedicated to helping the Hemlock trees in north Georgia and throughout the Appalachia area.
The Hemlock Problem
The Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is killing Georgia’s beautiful Hemlocks. This exotic aphid-like insect from Asia infests Hemlocks, sucks their sap, and kills them in 3-6 years.
Why You Should Care
Hemlock stands keep streams cool enough for the fish (particularly trout) to live, and the trees help keep stream banks stable, preventing erosion. The hemlock also provides food and shelter for wild animals and birds, a source that will be gone if we can’t stop the HWA.
The Plan
Read more about the Lumpkin Coalition’s plan to preserve the Hemlocks and combat the Hemlock wooly adelgid! Visit their website at https://lumpkincoalition.org.
