Tree Tour celebrated the launch of Adopt-a-Park-Tree Programs in East Danforth Community
(June 7, 2014, Toronto, ON – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) This past weekend, residents from the East Danforth community gathered to celebrate the launch of Adopt-A-Park-Tree Programs in Norwood Park and East Lynn Park. Each program is run by a local volunteer group that works to connect local residents with their own park tree to care for during the year. LEAF partnered with Friends of Norwood Park and DECA Tree to encourage people to adopt a park tree and perform basic tree-tending techniques such as mulching, weeding and watering. The goal of the program is to help new trees thrive in the first three to five years after planting – the toughest years for tree survival!
On Sunday, participants started their day by mulching and watering 32 young trees in Norwood Park. After the group’s stewardship efforts, everyone gathered to take a tour of some of Norwood’s gorgeous old trees, adding inspiration to the day’s hard work. Robyn Stewart, LEAF’s Education and Outreach Coordinator, then led the group on a tree tour through both the quiet residential streets and busier commercial areas between Norwood and East Lynn. Participants saw first-hand the devastating effects of Emerald Ash Borer and the invasion of non-native plants and learned what they could do to help.
Tour participants also had the opportunity to learn about other local stewardship projects. Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon, who joined the tour and helped celebrate the Adopt-a-Park-Tree launch, shared information about the Gerrard Street Tree Adopters program organized by the Beach Hill Neighbourhood Association. This inspiring project helps the street trees thrive and creates a sense of community ownership and pride. The tour also passed by another great example of local tree action in Merrill Bridge Park where DECA Tree has been working to protect the new trees in the heavily used dog park.
As the tour came to an end in East Lynn Park, participants gathered to help DECA Tree mulch and water more than 16 trees. Some of the new park-tree adopters even named their trees with fitting titles like “Tree-Rex” for a ginkgo (one of the world’s oldest living tree species) and “Coffee Crisp” for a lovely Kentucky coffeetree!
Through the Adopt-a-Park-Tree program, local communities work together with the City, Park People and LEAF to enhance the urban tree canopy and Toronto’s parks. The Adopt-A-Park-Tree Manual, released earlier this year, is a great resource for any community group that is looking to establish their own park tree adoption project.
Visit www.yourleaf.org.for more information.
Interviews available upon request.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Erin MacDonald
Volunteer and Stewardship Coordinator, LEAF
416-413-9244 x.12 (office) | erin[at]yourleaf.org
Janet McKay
Executive Director, LEAF
416-413-9244 x.17 (office) | janet[at]yourleaf.org
