The Town of Pelham put down more roots in North Pelham Park during Earth Week 2023.
The municipality planted 30 large trees in the popular greenspace with the support of a $15,000 Environmental grant from NCF. The project was designed to enhance the natural tree canopy with native species while bringing awareness to the importance of the local tree canopy.
Adding more trees to the park had been a priority based on the community's requests, says Leah Letford, Town of Pelham communications specialist. Expanding the canopy also fits with Pelham’s mission statement as a caring, active, and sustainable community.
“For the tree plant, larger trees were selected so there would be an immediate impact for the community members using the park,” Letford says.
Local groups, including a school eco-club and members of Pelham Advocates for Trees and Habitat (PATH), joined residents and Town staff to plant the trees, which included black walnut, bur oak, sycamore maple, and legacy sugar maple, as a tribute to the nearby Comfort Maple, believed to be the oldest sugar maple in Canada. Town forestry specialists prepared the location and primed helpers on soil preparation, proper tree planting and care to ensure successful growth. Trees were planted to create vibrant colour blocks in the fall.
The grant also funded four eco-workshops hosted by PATH for residents, covering tree care and canopy health.
The Earth Week event combined with the PATH workshops brought residents together to learn more about their impacts and the importance of native species and planted seeds for a greener community for generations to come.
"It was inspiring to see the expansion of North Pelham Park's tree canopy during Earth Week,” says Vickie vanRavenswaay, the Town of Pelham’s Director of Recreation, Culture, and Wellness. “Planting the native species was a great way for residents to get involved in activities that can positively impact the environment."
Educational signage created with a portion of the NCF grant will be posted in the park this year to highlight the tree species and characteristics of the Carolinian Zone, the most diverse and threatened eco-region, stretching from the southern United States into a small section of southern Ontario, including Pelham.
“It was a lovely thing to see community members come together and make a day of planting in the park,” Letford says. “Grant opportunities, like those offered by NCF, have a way of bringing like-minded people together to do something impactful that can benefit the community for years to come.”
In 2022, NCF was privileged to welcome the Dorothea Thomas Foundation under the umbrella of NCF’s Environmental Funds. Pooled with other generous funds, the Dorothea Thomas Foundation significantly boosts the Environmental Grants Program, allowing NCF to fund more projects across Niagara.
