WELLINGTON COUNTY – County residents looking to increase their green space have a few options when it comes to planting new trees.
Through the County of Wellington, residents can participate in a Green Legacy Municipal Tree Day.
Each spring, the Green Legacy Program distributes 5,000 seedlings to each of the seven municipalities. Each municipality holds a day where these seedlings are available for free on a first come, first served basis. A cash or food bank donation will be accepted at the pick-up.
A variety of hardwood and coniferous species are available including: White spruce, Norway spruce, red pine, white pine, white cedar, silver maple, red oak, bur oak and American elm. Residents are asked to bring their own boxes or bags to put their trees in.
According to the County of Wellington website, the Green Legacy Program started in 2004 with the idea to plant 150,000 trees in celebration of the county’s 150-year anniversary. This has grown to over two-million trees planted by community partners making it the largest municipal tree planting program in North America.
Regular tree orders are also available through Green Legacy. Any orders made before April 15 will be available for pick-up at the municipal tree day.
The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is also offering tree planting this spring to those in the Grand River watershed. Some landowners may be able to get help with planting as well.
According to a press release, landowners with at least two hectares of property can have a GRCA forestry specialist to visit their property to develop a custom planting plan, arrange the planting in the spring and help access funding programs to offset any costs.
The minimum order for this is 1,000 seedlings or 50 tall stock trees.
Those with at least one hectare can order trees they can plant themselves. Online tree orders can be placed until the end of March.
All tree orders can be picked up in late April or early May at the GRCA head office in Cambridge.
More information on these programs are available at:
https://www.wellington.ca/en/discover/municipaltreeday.aspx
https://www.grandriver.ca/en/our-watershed/Tree-planting.aspx
The time and location of the municipal tree days are:
| Township | Date | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puslinch | Saturday, April 25 |
Blue shed at the Puslinch community centre |
8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. |
| Centre Wellington |
Saturday, April 25 |
Centre Wellington Infrastructure Services Office |
8 a.m. to 10 a.m. |
| Erin |
Saturday, May 2 |
Erin Municipal Works Yard 5684 Trafalgar Rd., Erin |
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. |
| Mapleton | Saturday, May 2 |
Drayton sand shed 7275 Sideroad 16, Drayton |
8 a.m. to 10 a.m. |
| Guelph/Eramosa | Saturday, May 2 |
Rockwood Fire Hall 5141 Wellington Rd. 27, Rockwood |
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
| Guelph/Eramosa |
Saturday, May 9 |
Marden Municipal Garage 7366 Wellington Rd. 30, Marden |
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. |
| Minto | Saturday, May 9 |
Town of Minto Municipal Office Garage 5941 Hwy. 89, Harriston |
8 a.m. to 10 a.m. |
| Wellington North | Saturday, May 9 |
Kenilworth Works Yard |
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. |
