THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2020 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toronto, ON - These days we all have to find creative ways to have fun together while also adhering to physical distancing guidelines. On Wednesday, September 23rd the non-profit organization Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF) together with the City of Richmond Hill celebrated National Tree Day by hosting a virtual tree tour of beautiful Lake Wilcox Park.
The tour was led by Aileen Barclay, a forest education specialist and an avid nature photographer with over two decades of experience in ecology. Participants learned tree identification tips and gained an appreciation of how mature and diverse species of trees, like those found in the park, enhance the biodiversity of our urban areas.
“Trees provide so much value to us and our natural world. I focused on highlighting the amazing value of trees, how wildlife depend on them and even showed which trees are the best for planting in our own yards!” says Barclay. “I’m excited that this event will be made available online, making this information accessible to everyone!”
The free virtual event was hosted on Zoom and is available through LEAF’s YouTube channel for anyone to enjoy. They also offer a downloadable map of a self-guided Tree Tour, available from LEAF and Richmond Hill’s websites for those who want to visit the park in person.
“We hope these resources inspire people to explore the park and learn more about the urban forest all around us, as well as the wildlife that depend on it!” says Lam Tran, Education Coordinator at LEAF.
The virtual tour was made possible with support from the City of Richmond Hill, Ontario Power Generation and GrandTrees Climate Solutions.
Watch the recording of the Lake Wilcox Park Tree Tour by visiting https://youtu.be/jT1r3iUcKo8.
Or download a printable self-guided map of trees in the park by visiting www.RichmondHill.ca/TreeTour
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