105 Trees Planted for Arbor Week
Thamesford: Lions Park Riparian Buffer Zone Planting
On April 22nd, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) supported a planting of 55 native trees and shrubs in Lions River Park with the Thamesford Lions and the Kintore-Thamesford Scouts. Tree species planted included Swamp White Oak, Burr Oak, Tulip, and Basswood, and shrubs included Elderberry, Nannyberry, Ninebark, and Red Osier Dogwood.
The plantings were made possible through an Enbridge Fueling Futures Grant and an Oxford Community Fund Stevens Fund Grant. The plantings are part of an ongoing partnership with the Thamesford Lions to create a naturalized buffer zone along the Middle Thames in River Park which incorporates capstone viewing areas and fishing steps so that community members can have access to the river.
Woodstock: Brick Ponds Wetlands Planting
On Thursday April 25th, a group of nearly 30 volunteers from Toyota Tsusho Canada Inc. planted 25 large native trees and 25 native shrubs at the Brick Ponds Wetlands in Woodstock. The Toyota Tsusho Canada Inc., one of several companies in the Toyota Group supporting the production at the Toyota Manufacturing Plant in Woodstock, is a neighbor of the Brick Ponds Wetland in Woodstock.
Company management reached out to the UTRCA Partnership team in the winter to find a hands-on opportunity for their staff to contribute to the health of the wetland. A planting project was already in the planning stages between the UTRCA Stewardship team and the City of Woodstock to add to the wetland buffer, behind the businesses along Beards Land. This provided an opportunity for Toyota Tsusho to be involved in a project in the near term, while a longer-term funding and volunteer project is developed by the company and UTRCA Partnerships.
