King students, residents plant trees on National Tree Day to promote a greener city
The group planted 175 trees and shrubs
Yorkregion.com
Oct. 7, 2019
Aaron Kim
In partnership with King Township and York Region, a non-profit organization launched a tree planting event on this year’s National Tree Day at the King municipal office for the very first time.
In order to promote a greener city, this all-ages, family-friendly event hosted by Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests (LEAF) invited the community to add to the biodiversity of York Region.
“It was a wonderful turnout, and personally seeing the coming together of school groups and local residents to achieve this initiative of increasing trees was amazing,” Erin MacDonald, community programs manager at LEAF, said.
With words of welcome from Steve Pellegrini, mayor of the township of King as well as James Lane, manager of natural heritage and forestry, the event took place on Wednesday of National Forest Week.
75 community members, including students from King City Public School and King Secondary School, attended and planted native trees in the township of King. The participants added 175 trees and shrubs to the existing woodlands of York Region.
“This planting among the many others King facilitates helps to green our municipality, increase our natural capital and offset the greenhouse gas emissions we produce,” said Pellegrini.
LEAF is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to the protection as well as the promotion of the benefits of an urban forest, such as the ability to absorb carbon dioxide and produce fresh air and reduce noise pollution, as well as providing a habitat for wildlife.
In addition, the participants of the event were also able to learn about how they could do their part to enhance the urban forest, as well as taking home a free native shrub as a sign of gratitude for participating in the event.
A similar event is taking place this October in Richmond Hill, where local residents will have the chance to increase the naturalization of the community.
