Richmond Hill naturalizes 7,000-sq.-m of parkland in 2019

LEAF, volunteers planted 1,350 native shrubs in past year

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 13, 2019
Aaron Kim

Richmond Hill has gotten much greener in 2019, with the help of volunteers from Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF).

Over the course of this year, LEAF has naturalized 7,000-square-metres of parkland and has planted 1,350 new, native shrubs with the aid of 480 community members, according to the Brian Millard, Stewardship Coordinator at LEAF.

“It's quite a busy year, the naturalization was something exciting we got to do,” Millward said. “It was quite a rewarding year.”

Along with several environmental, health and economic benefits such as increasing property values, improving air quality and reducing storm-water run-off, a positive correlation also exists between greater number of trees and better physical as well as mental well-being.

Increasing nature will also increase the wildlife habitat in Richmond Hill, and sequester carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

These events had also strengthened the sense of community as neighbours worked side by side greening their community by planting new trees.

Although the final tree planting event of the year took place in early October, there are still ways to continue to make an effort as LEAF states that “making Richmond Hill greener is something anyone can do, right from their own backyard.”

LEAF’s subsidized planting programs aims to help property owners in York Region, Toronto and Ajax to plant native trees on private property.

The program is supported by funding partners such as York Region Municipality and the city of Toronto who covers for approximately half of the values of LEAF’s services. Therefore, property owners may receive LEAF’s service at an affordable price.

This program also teaches the ways to maintain and care for the planted trees to ensure they are healthy and thriving.

LEAF is currently planning for future events and wishes to continue their efforts of making communities greener in the upcoming year.