Greening Communities Through Tree Canada’s Treemendous Communities Grant

Trees and urban forests play a significant role in our communities. They bring us closer to nature, beautify the landscape, and offer many benefits to humans and their surrounding environments. More specifically, urban forests are responsible for sequestering air pollutants and particulates, energy conservation through transpirational cooling and shade, wind reduction, storm-water attenuation, noise buffering, provision of wildlife habitat, increased property value, improved aesthetics, and psychological well-being.

Tree Canada’s Treemendous Communities grants support tree planting projects to create long-lasting benefits in communities across the country. Each grant offers up to $10,000 in funding to municipalities, Indigenous communities, business improvement associations, non-profit and community groups. The program will be accepting grant applications this Fall. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to be the first to hear about it!

In the meantime, read about three unique planting projects that were completed in recent years through our Treemendous Communities grant program.

Project #1: Wright’s Creek Watershed Planting Project – Charlottetown, PEI

This project, sponsored by Northbridge Insurance Group, consisted of planting a diversity of native trees and shrubs. A total of 750 trees were planted to help build a 13-acre buffer zone along a field bordering the south side of Wright’s Creek, which is particularly vulnerable to runoff and erosion. The project was a success thanks to the many local volunteers who dug in and helped with the planting.

What makes this project unique?
This project supported the reforestation of a strip of the original old-growth Acadian Forest. The field has been transformed from cropped land to a forest in the making. The project focused on planting species that are proven to maximize survival to encourage land restoration, habitat restoration and enhancement, and urban naturalization.

Project #2: Fish Creek Provincial Park Planting Project – Calgary, Alberta

This Treemendous Communities project, sponsored by Northbridge Insurance Group, consisted of planting 197 trees, including 89 native poplar trees equipped with watering devices. Fish Creek Provincial Park is the second largest urban park in Canada, with beautiful riparian zones that stretch from one end to the other, as Fish Creek flows into the Bow River. The lack of natural regeneration has created significant issues for this wildlife corridor due to the invasive brome grass and lack of flooding needed for the riparian poplars to properly establish.

What makes this project unique?
The goal of this project is to make a positive impact on the landscape by planting native poplars in areas where they are needed. Invasive species and brome grass are now being managed, and each poplar is monitored for health and sufficient water resources until they are large enough to survive on their own. In addition, this project included the use of Groasis Waterboxx, a watering device that will help establish the tree for the long-term establishment of the trees

Project #3: Humboldt Community Trails Planting Project – Humboldt, Saskatchewan

This project consisted of planting various trees and shrubs species such as Martin Saskatoon and Harcourt apple trees totalling 241 trees planted. The goals of this project were to identify trail linkages throughout Humboldt, promote the trails’ environmental and health benefits and increase residents’ access to their community. This project was made possible with the help of project sponsor, U-Haul, as well as the numerous volunteers and organizers that dedicated their time to making this project a reality and success.

What makes this project unique?
This project highlights the importance of trail networks within communities. The Burton Lake Trail is beneficial to both the residential communities and local schools of Humboldt as they connect green spaces, sports facilities, commercial areas, schools, and historical sites within the city. This trail is part of a larger trail network of large and small circuit pathway systems for pedestrian movement within the city and out to the countryside where new homes/developments are becoming established. The trees and shrubs planted along this trail provide shade and windbreaks, enhance biodiversity, wildlife habitat opportunities, food sources, screening from industrial areas, and an overall improvement in natural beauty. This trail will also provide both physical and educational benefits for its users.