Lindsay Thurber Raiders football players help plant 2,000 saplings near Blackfalds

Lindsay Thurber Raiders Senior and Bantam football players helped to plant 2,000 pine and spruce saplings to conserve pheasants, quail, and other wildlife through habitat improvements.

Raiders officials said the players, along with coaches and families, partnered with Pheasants Forever, to plant the saplings last week at a site west of Blackfalds.

The charity partners with other conservation organizations to purchase land suitable for intensive habitat programs in response to the decline of ring-necked pheasants and other upland game bird populations.

“This was a challenging task as it was a really hot day and the ground was hard and very rocky. I am proud of our bantam and senior players as they were committed to getting the trees in the ground and worked hard to complete the task,” said Senior Head Coach, Ole Stearns.