Four forestry students joined School of Natural Resources Professor Jennifer Franklin Tuesday to plant 60 blight-resistant American chestnut hybrid seedlings on reclaimed mining land in Ducktown, Tenn.

Rachel Brock, Nica Ables, Anna Carter and Ian Barry picked up shovels and dug holes for the planting organized by Coal Creek Watershed Foundation.

Copper Basin High School students, the Ducktown Basin Museum, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and Glenn Springs Holdings also helped with the effort.

Groups gather to plant American chestnut seedlings at reclaimed mine site. Photo: Carol Moore, Coal Creek Watershed Foundation

(Left to right ) Ian Barry and Nica Ables help dig holes on a reclaimed mining site in Ducktown, Tenn. Photo: Carol Moore, Coal Creek Watershed Foundation

(Left to right) Rachel Brock and Anna Carter helped plant American chestnut seedlings on reclaimed mining land. Photo: Carol Moore, Coal Creek Watershed Foundation

(Left to right, foreground) Professor Jennifer Franklin and Nica Ables dig a hole for seedlings in Ducktown, Tenn. Photo: Carol Moore, Coal Creek Watershed Foundation

(Left to right) Ian Barry, Nica Ables, Anna Carter, Professor Jennifer Franklin and Rachel Brock traveled to Ducktown, Tenn., to plant seedlings on unclaimed mining land. Photo: Coal Creek Watershed Foundation

Foundation President Barry Thacker grew the seedlings from nuts he received from the American Chestnut Foundation.

Everyone who participated in the planting received a red bandana in honor of the miners who fought in the Coal Creek War from 1891-1892 in opposition of convict labor in mines.