Over the course of the day, four classes with over 100 students and teachers joined us to plant trees and shrubs. Classes received an educational introduction to urban forests, biodiversity, native plants, and invasive species such as the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).
Students watched planting demonstrations and learned about the importance of their work.
A team of students show off their work in progress.
Students learned that by planting native trees and shrubs they are providing habitat for wildlife, helping to clean our air, and improving the quality of water in our streams and the Great Lakes. They are contributing to the growth of a resilient, diverse, and healthy urban forest and helping to combat the impacts of EAB, which is expected to kill over 2.8 million trees in York in the near future.
Another team of students show off their beautifully planted tree!
Brenna, a LEAF staff member, shared smiles with a student after they mulched a tree together.
Students demonstrated an excellent display of skills by properly planting trees and ensuring all trees had beautiful mulch rings around them to support their long-term growth and health.
Students celebrate their hard work and a great day!
At the end of the event, students were given information to take home about how they can take action with their friends and family to care for the urban forest and plant more trees in their communities through LEAF’s Backyard Tree Planting Program.
LEAF staff, partners and volunteers share a moment after a successful day of planting.
Special thanks to the partners who made the event possible – the Government of Ontario (through the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund), the Regional Municipality of York, the Town of Richmond Hill, and Ontario Streams.
We could not have had such an amazing, successful day without the support of LEAF volunteers who provided guidance to students on proper planting and mulching techqiques and ensured everyone had a great time!
You can see more photos from this event on our Facebook page, and check out the video below which captures all of the excitement, hard work, and great energy from a wonderful day of planting:
Tooba Shakeel is LEAF’s Education and Outreach Coordinator .
Photographs by David Slaughter and Tooba Shakeel. Video by Ceecee Lu and Robin Blanchard.
This tree planting event was supported by the Government of Ontario, York Region, Town of Richmond Hill and Ontario Streams. LEAF’s Backyard Tree Planting Program in York Region is supported by York Region and the City of Markham.