When Lucy became a Tree Tender, she was already the sole steward of 10 pine trees around her condo, but that summer she looked beyond her backyard. Lucy took notice of a stretch of trees on a nearby road that appeared at risk of severe root loss. An irrigation project threatened to dig out a large trench for a water pipe that would cut straight across the base of these trees. Concerned, she contacted her local city councilor’s office and inquired about the infrastructure maintenance around these mature trees. The city staff assessed the site and made sure that everything would be okay for the trees. To this day they still stand, healthy as ever!
Lucy believes that more tree planting needs to happen across Scarborough. The area holds some of the highest concentrations of ash trees in Toronto, and with EAB ravaging its way across the city, the need for new trees is greater than ever! Lucy has spotted many mature trees that need pruning or could stand to be replaced with hardy native species. By encouraging her neighbours to plant trees, she has already helped to change that situation. After all, you can’t spell succession planting without success!
I was recently in touch with Lucy, when she told me that her condo’s pine trees are thriving. While she has taken less of a role in stewarding them (her condo team hired a full time landscaper), she has shifted her focus to other trees-in-need. Lucy continues to be a watchdog in her neighbourhood, keeping an eye on construction projects, and making sure trees and their roots are considered and properly protected. With a little more free time, Lucy has been able to direct her energy into helping us at various events and remains an active, dedicated volunteer.
This photo of her was snapped at an outreach event where she was helping spread the word about the urban forest, and now we use it on our EAB Ambassador posters. Some might even say that Lucy is the face of the program! She also volunteers at major renaturalization projects, like the one we did at Milne Hollow through 2011, and our annual Earth Day Planting. (We look forward to seeing her face on Sunday!) She uses her Tree Tender skills and helps train newer volunteers to properly plant, mulch, and water trees. How awesome is that?
If you, like Lucy, believe more trees in your neighbourhood need proper pruning and extra care, and you’re interested in learning how to do this, check out the Tree Tenders Volunteer Training Program. This is a multi-day course designed for individuals who want to gain tree-related knowledge and skills. The courses are open for registration now and spots are filling up fast! Check out the link above for details on the course schedule and to register.