Living Green is looking to make the city a little bit “greener.”
The local environmental charity is hosting several community tree-planting events throughout May, with a goal of planting 10,000 trees throughout the city of Barrie and nearby communities.
Living Green says it plans to launch this spring planting season with 4,492 trees already in the ground. By June, officials are anticipating the organization will be past the halfway point in its goal.
The organization’s mission is to inspire people to make responsible environmental choices, and will be hosting the first of nearly a dozen local events on Saturday, May 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at Pringle Park, where volunteers will be on hand to help plant 300 native trees and shrubs.
On Tuesday, May 9, volunteers will be at Donald Street Park from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. to help plant 38 native trees and shrubs as part of Kidd’s Creek Tree-Planting and Clean-Up event. Shrubs were chosen specifically for their berries and flowers that attract native birds and Clean Up Barrie volunteers will be on-hand to remove garbage and debris before it gets into Lake Simcoe via Kidd's Creek.
The Trees for Bees Pilot Project is slated for Friday, May 12 beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Batteaux Park, and will create three pollinator “pods” in the public park. Each pod will have a tree surrounded by native flowers and plants specifically chosen for each tree. The tree and the plants are species that are important for attracting native pollinators. The pods will be contained by a hexagonal frame mounted to the ground and made of post-consumer recycled plastic lumber. Volunteers for the work party will be members of the Barrie Huronia Rotary Club
On Wednesday, May 17, Ward 10 Coun. Bryn Hamilton will be at Coronation Park at 3:30 p.m. for the Hewitt’s Creek Tree to help volunteers plant 54 native trees and shrubs, chosen specifically for their berries and flowers that attract native birds. Clean Up Barrie volunteers will be on hand to remove garbage and debris before it gets into Lake Simcoe via Hewitt’s Creek.
On Tuesday, May 23 from noon to 3 p.m., Bimbo Canada (Dempsters Bread) staff and community volunteers will be helping plant 300 trees and shrubs as part of their Good Neighbours Corporate Program at Bayview Memorial Park in Hawkestone, north of Barrie. Trees will be planted along the perimeter of this beautiful park and will help improve the quality of runoff into Lake Simcoe.
The Native Tree and Shrub Sale and “Ask The Expert” is slated for Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Beacon Environmental, located at 6 Cumberland St. The annual sale includes trees and shrub species chosen for the local eco-climate. Pollinator plants will also be available for purchase from Pollinate Barrie, as well as free advice from professionals about tree planting and selection as well as advice about changing lawns to native pollinator gardens.
The Lover’s Creek Tree Planting & Clean Up is set for Tuesday, May 30 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Chalmers Park. Fifty-three native trees and shrubs will be planted, and were chosen specifically for their berries and flowers that attract native birds. Clean Up Barrie volunteers will be on-hand to remove garbage and debris before it gets into Lake Simcoe via Hewitt’s Creek.
