Officials offer free replacements for homeowners to remove harmful plants: 'I've been waiting for this opportunity'

Officials offer free replacements for homeowners to remove harmful plants: 'I've been waiting for this opportunity'

Residents lined up at a Fayetteville event on Oct. 11 to swap out invasive Bradford pear trees for free native replacements.  Under the North Carolina Bradford Pear Bounty program, Cumberland County Cooperative Extension officials gave away 200 young native trees to people who cut down Bradford pear trees and brought proof. The turnout was so enthusiastic that all 200 saplings were claimed in hours, with each household allowed up to five trees. …