Communities for Nature

Doing Good Things for Nature & Your Community!

Communities for Nature creates connections between businesses and industries, schools, and the local community, and improves the environment for everyone.

The UTRCA works with corporations interested in supporting local environmental initiatives. Our staff meet with local partners to identify sites that can be restored, then coordinate community involvement in planting trees, shrubs, aquatic plants, wildflower meadows, and prairies. Projects range from small neighbourhood sites to large multi-year corporate and municipal initiatives.

Communities for Nature benefits nature and local communities by:

  • Improving water and air quality
  • Providing wildlife habitat
  • Protecting endangered species
  • Increasing biodiversity
  • Building partnerships
  • Providing opportunities for students to get involved in their community, and to learn that their efforts can make a difference
  • Making our communities better places to live

Communities for Nature Programs

Communities for Nature offers a choice of four activities: Community Forestry, Aquatic Connections, Spreading like Wildflowers, and School Ground Greening. These programs can be done separately or in combination, depending on each project’s scope and site design.

Community Forestry

Community Forestry establishes native tree and wildlife shrub communities in parks, along watercourses, and on industrial and commercial properties.
Projects are available in April, May, and November.

Aquatic Connections

Aquatic Connections restores streams and wetlands throughout the watershed by planting native wetland species and bio-engineering. Projects are available from March to June and September to November.

Spreading like Wildflowers

Spreading like Wildflowers creates native wildflower meadows and prairies by planting wildflower and grass plugs, and spreading seeds. Projects are available in late May and June.

School Ground Greening

Are you interested in greening your school grounds and enhancing your ecoschools application? School Ground Greening actively engages students and staff in the care of the natural environment, encourages teaching and learning in the outdoors, and increases biodiversity on the school grounds, through plantings and creating more natural spaces. Projects are available in April/May and October/November.

For More Information

Contact Brad Hertner, Community Partnerships Specialist (+1 (519) 451-2800 ext. 274), for more information.

Communities for Nature - schoolyard planting

Communities for Nature - Spreading Like Wildflowers

Communities for Nature - Community Forestry

Communities for Nature - Aquatic Connections

Communities for Nature - Aquatic Connections

Communities for Nature - Community Forestry