This October, LEAF staff and volunteers came together to plant 241 native trees and shrubs in Pickering for the first time. The site was along Pine Creek, in an area that is beneficial for local beavers as they search for food and the building materials they need for the winter. While beavers and their dams play an important role in mitigating droughts, floods, and water pollution, their appetite was leading to a decrease in the canopy cover near the creek. Shovels in hand, we were excited to help reestablish this creek-side canopy and enhance this natural space and the benefits it provides.
To reinvigorate this creek-side forest, we planted native species such as eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis), silver maple (Acer saccharinum), American hazelnut (Corylus americana), and more. These newly planted trees and shrubs will not only provide habitat for terrestrial wildlife but also support aquatic wildlife by providing shade to cool the creek and prevent soil erosion. Given the lively beaver population, the City of Pickering also installed wildlife-friendly tree wraps to help these newly planted species grow to full maturity.
This event was bittersweet, as it was the last community planting event of the year for LEAF. I found myself reflecting on the impact we’d made on the urban forest through the various greening projects I’d participated in this season. All the planting events went by so quickly! Luckily, on our last day, we set aside some time for a sharing circle. This gave us the chance to commemorate our experiences and the connections we had made with each other and nature. Planters shared what these events meant to them, what they’d learned and how excited they were to continue this naturalization work next year!
A fond memory I shared was connecting with two urban planning graduates from the University of Waterloo. I could instantly tell how passionate they were about the environment and urban forestry. We spoke about the importance of planting trees and shared our common interest in fostering environmental stewardship. I also met a landscaper who had planted 200 trees in Scarborough. Her knowledge and care for tree planting were inspiring and made me want to get more involved in my own neighbourhood.
My biggest takeaway from this planting season was that nature brings people together. I met so many amazing volunteers, and while we all have different backgrounds and levels of knowledge and experience, we all share a love of trees.
Even though we have completed our naturalization plantings for this year, we would love to have you join us in 2022 for more planting fun! To stay up to date on future planting events, sign up for our LEAF News and check out our Events page.
This blog is the third in a series that highlights our naturalization planting work in Durham Region.
Suzie Kim is a Tree Planting Stewardship Assistant with LEAF.
This planting event is funded by Ontario Power Generation and the Ontario Trillium Foundation and supported by the Town of Pickering and the Regional Municipality of Durham.