Helen Godfrey's picture
Posted by Helen Godfrey / December 16, 2011
Baview Buckets
Street trees are often neglected and I have long felt that communities should take some responsibility for their care. In my neighbourhood, on Bayview Avenue north of Davisville subway station, there is a four-block commercial strip that thrives – but unlike the businesses, the trees aren’t doing so well. The west side is lined with trees in concrete planters but the east is presently without any greenery due to sidewalk reconstruction. The difference between the two is stark and so I decided to attempt a tree care project.

 

 

LEAF and trees are synonymous in this city and - as graduate of the Tree Tenders Volunteer Training Program - I turned to them for advice on how to proceed. Through a grant from Live Green Toronto to help Tree Tenders grads with neighbourhood tree initiatives, LEAF’s Amanda Gomm was able to help as a mentor.

 

Once we decided an adopt-a-tree project would be great for my neighbourhood, we began making some calls.  I first contacted my councillor, Josh Matlow (Ward 22) and then the local ratepayers group (SERRA) to inform them and see if they had any other suggestions wanted to get involved.

 

Amanda and I then decided to take a tree inventory and identify potential early adopters for the project.  By the end of September the two of us and another very knowledgeable LEAF volunteer set out and spent several hours identifying some 49 trees, recording their species and health condition. While we walked along the avenue, several people stopped to inquire about our effort.  Everyone loved the idea - we even recruited another volunteer to help out!

 

Helen Godfrey

 

Now that we’ve completed the inventory, the next step will be to persuade business owners to become involved from April to September by 'adopting' the tree in front of their store and agreeing to water it on a weekly basis.  I’ve already begun writing a brochure that will be distributed next spring.  It outlines the economic advantages of a shaded, attractive streetscape and includes details on watering options.

 

We hope to get businesses on side by distributing donated “Bayview Buckets” - with a label on the side to indicate that the tree is being cared for by the business it sits in front of. We will approach a few at first in hopes of creating a buzz around the project and encouraging other merchants in the neighbourhood to do the same.

 

I am happy to have started this - it’s unlike anything I’ve ever done before.  If it’s successful, perhaps it might even expand to other neighbourhoods - I know a few trees that could use it!

 

Helen Godfrey took one of the early Tree Tenders Volunteer Training Courses in fall 2008 at the Riverdale Library.  Since, she has been an active volunteer taking part in many of our workshops and events.  To find out more about the Baview tree audit or Bucket Project please leave a comment below.

 

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Comments

Submitted by Matthew Higginson on December 20, 2011.

Hey Anne,

Please feel free to post your photos to our facebook page and share them with a link, or if you have any other place they are online you can share that here as well - I think folks would benefit from seeing your example! Thanks for sharing!

Matthew

Submitted by Matthew Higginson on December 20, 2011.
Thanks Trish - us too! Helen is doing great work.
Submitted by Anne (not verified) on December 20, 2011.
Helen, I'm going to make a suggestion that I think is an improvement on the "Bayview Bucket". I've been using large jugs (10 litre )-empty "spring water" jugs. These have the advantage of being,cheap,light and easily carried in your car.If you're throwing a few jugs of water in your car they can be capped so water doesn't slosh around ( which is an issue with a bucket).They have a more comfortable handle than a bucket and even come with water the first time!! I work all over town and always carry water for the inevitable distressed tree that makes me stop my car and tip a jug or two on it's side.The boulevards in my neighbourhood are sloped and very hard packed, with no mulch, so any water runs into the street.I make a very small puncture in the air hole indent and tip the jug over and it drips out and soaks in.I can walk away and collect it later. My neighbours tpically return the jug to me if they're going by.I just wish they'd water! If I could figure out how to post it I'd add a picture. Anne
Submitted by trish dyer (not verified) on December 19, 2011.
What a great idea. I hope it spreads to every neighbourhood in the city. Kudos to Helen Godfrey.

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