Several decades from now, the popularity of the 2022 Community Trees Seedling Giveaway will be clearly evident by way of the maturing trees planted in the County and elsewhere this spring.

The County of Prince Edward and neighbouring  municipalities involved partnered with Quinte Conservation and Lower Trent Conservation for the Community Trees initiative are going to feature additional green canopies thanks to the program and residents wishing to beautify their properties. 

A total of 1,000 trees were given away including white spruce, white and red pine, white cedar, hackberry, red and white oak, black cherry and sugar maple.

“This was a County led and funded initiative that included a partnership with the Quinte Conservation Authority,” stated Albert Paschkowiak, C.E.T. Environmental Services and Sustainability Supervisor with the Corporation of the County of Prince Edward. “The event was intended to address the losses our County is sustaining due to the Emerald Ash Borer and to promote more tree cover. The event would not have been possible without volunteers from the Picton Rotary Club, the Prince Edward County Horticultural Society, the Prince Edward County Master Gardeners and members of the Environmental Advisory Committees Natural Cover Group.”

A handful of Picton Rotary Club members volunteered their time to help with the event in Picton at Delhi Park on April 30th from 8am – 2pm.

As said on the Quinte Conservation website, Native plants play an important role in this region’s natural ecology, and the Community Trees initiative provides residents with a great opportunity to support that role by planting in urban and rural properties and helping to increase forest cover.

“We are so lucky to be partnering with Trees For Life and Quinte West to provide residents free native tree seedlings to plant and care for on their properties,” says Ewa Bednarczuk, Ecology & Stewardship Specialist at Lower Trent Conservation.

Participating municipalities included Belleville, Centre Hastings, Marmara and Lake, Prince Edward County, Stirling-Radon, Town of Greater Napanee, Tweed and Quinte West.

For more information please visit https://www.quinteconservation.ca/en/news/2022-community-trees-seedling-giveaways-by-local-municipalities.aspx