Spring has sprung and gardening season is just around the corner. Some of us will soon be on our hands and knees, tending to plants at home. But on Friday, April 21, the day before Earth Day, arborists from Baum Tree Care will be “tree-gardening” from a lofty perch.
Starting at 10:30 am, Baum’s skilled arborists will be tending a 100-year-old legacy Silver Maple at the Wellington County Museum and Archives. The public is invited to watch them scale the tree, removing deadwood and improving its structure to help keep it healthy and extend its life.
“As many people know, trees fight climate change by storing carbon,” says Tree Trust Executive Director Toni Ellis. “ While many of us are planting trees for the future, it’s our biggest trees that are doing the heavy lifting. In fact, the biggest trees do the work of close to 300 saplings.” Other benefits include providing habitat for birds, slowing the flow of storm water and, giving us shade, solace and respite.”
ownship of Centre Wellington is sponsoring this restoration work through its Community Impact Grant – Annual Specific Stream. Like most Ontario Municipalities, this community will be undertaking an assessment of our natural heritage assets. “Our mature trees are a significant part of these assets, “says Centre Wellington Mayor, Shawn Watters.
“Our Community Impact Grants are designed to enhance the quality of life and stimulate wider community appreciation in the community. I am proud that our council is supporting this important restoration work in our community.”
Participants at the Silver Maple celebration will include the Honourable Senator Rob Black, Ward 5 County Councillor and Chair of Information Heritage and Seniors Mary Lloyd, and Centre Wellington Mayor Shawn Watters. Guests will be invited to help plant, mulch and water about 15 Green Legacy sugar maples saplings. Light refreshments will be served.
Tree Trust is the only charity preserving legacy trees, whose size, beauty and other benefits are so important to our communities. For more information about Tree Trust activities, which began here in Centre Wellington and have expanded to six other regions, visit treetrust.ca.
This early photograph of the Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge (now Museum and Archives) shows that tree planting and tree care was a priority. The silver maple which is the focus of this year’s Earth Day is the shrub shaped tree on the extreme left of the picture.
