2011 Planting Program Report

CLICK HERE to view the 2011 Planting Program Report.  (PDF 3.7 MB)

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Schools

During the past 20 planting seasons, many thousands of students and other Guelph residents have contributed their time and “sweat equity” to improve their local environment by planting over 100,000 trees in Guelph. 

Our qualified coordinators arrange the planting events and supervise the volunteer planters, who are primarily high school students, during the months of April and May. The students receive a curriculum-linked in-class seminar, where feasible, prior to the planting event, followed by in-field orientation and review on the day of the planting. These sessions help the students and others understand the current state of the local environment and its relationship with local forests, and how their participation in planting will make a difference in their community. They learn the proper techniques for tree planting and early maintenance. The approach is primarily qualitative – participants are encouraged to focus on the quality of each planting, and not to focus on the number of trees being planted.

Since 2001, we have increased our focus on school yard greening.

 

Industry

Our initial focus was the greening of the industrial basin of our city. With the assistance and cooperation of local business and industry, we have planted on industrial sites and public rights of way.

Industry can get involved with Trees for Guelph in the following ways:

McNeil Consumer Healthcare, for example, has participated on all levels and has provided assistance for our educational CD. Incorporated within the CD is a model used by McNeil in offsetting CO 2 emissions and a means for understanding the “ecological footprints” of both individuals and industry.

 

Community

Over years the members of the community involved in Trees for Guelph has grown significantly.

The Edinburgh Road North Project

In 2002, we started a project with the Onward Willow community group and the Two Rivers Neighbourhood Group. The Willow Road and Two Rivers areas of Guelph are sometimes perceived as “active neighbourhoods” by the greater community. TFG believes that we can assist Onward Willow and Two River’s attempts to improve the quality of life in their neighbourhoods. In partnership with the University of Guelph and the students and faculty from the Landscape Architecture program, a community assessment was conducted, community meetings held, and plans developed. The City of Guelph is supporting the project.

         

 

Also included within the project is the landscape improvement of the road, rail and hydro corridor along Edinburgh Road North through the community. The plan includes tree planting and naturalization and is an ongoing project of Trees for Guelph.