Tree Planting Season Kicks Off 

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has officially kicked off its 2026 tree planting season. With a strong lineup of funding programs, this year’s efforts are about more than putting trees in the ground – they’re about building healthier, more resilient landscapes for the future. 

Across the watershed, nearly 28,000 trees and shrubs will be planted this spring. Of those, 16,500 will be planted directly by UTRCA crews, with the remaining trees and seedlings planted by landowners themselves. Each planting project, whether a windbreak along a field, a new woodlot, or the restoration of a wetland, plays a role in reducing erosion, improving water quality, increasing biodiversity, and strengthening the long-term health of the land. 

Out in the field, the season is already underway. Despite a cold and wet start, staff have been hard at work, beginning with large stock trees carefully hand-planted across priority sites. As conditions improve, the work will ramp up, with crews shifting into full-scale seedling planting using both hand and machine methods to efficiently establish thousands more trees. 

This year, UTRCA is offering a wide range of stewardship funding opportunities designed to make tree planting and restoration more accessible than ever. Through programs such as the UTRCA’s Phosphorus Reduction Program, the Resilient Agricultural Lands Program, Forests Canada’s 50 Million Tree Program, the Oxford County Clean Water Program, the Perth County Stewardship Program, and the Canadian Nature Fund, many projects may be eligible for significant financial support, often covering a substantial portion of the total cost. 

Whether you’re considering a small planting project or a larger restoration effort, the support is there, from technical guidance to hands-on implementation and funding assistance. 

If you’ve been thinking about planting trees, restoring a natural area, or enhancing your property for future generations, now is the time to start the conversation. Reach out to the UTRCA Forestry and Restoration Team to learn how these programs can work for you, and how your land can become part of something bigger. 

 Learn more here: on our website.