Published in The BANAR November 2014
by Justine Payne
More than 50 volunteers came out to show their support and plant more than 30 trees and shrubs at Diceman Park on Saturday October 4th despite the inclement weather! This past tree planting was the second phase of the Blackburn tree planting initiative with the goal of re-planting trees in our parks that had been invaded by the Emerald Ash Borer.
The City of Ottawa provided more than 30 small and medium sized native trees and shrubs such as Silver Maple and Sugar Maple for the planting. To help these trees to better succeed for the next few years, caring families “adopted” the trees that were planted. These adopters will be looking after the trees by providing them with enough water, at least once a week in the summer time. Watering jugs were given to the tree adopters by the Blackburn Hamlet Association (BCA) as a thank-you for their commitment in this tree planting initiative.
The City has also planted several larger trees in both Diceman Park and Isaiah Scharfe Park, in an ongoing effort to replace many of the trees that were lost in our community. Volunteers at the tree planting were given the opportunity to adopt trees for their own homes.
This project keeps growing! The third phase of the Blackburn tree planting initiative will be taking place in the fall of 2015! More information and details of the event will be posted on the BCA website (www.blackburnhamlet.ca) and the BCA Facebook page.