Local youth plant 1,000 trees and shrubs

Otonabee Conservation has partnered with several local schools and service groups to plant a variety of trees and shrubs around the Cedargrove Park stormwater management pond near Sherbrooke Street and Glenforest Boulevard in the City of Peterborough.

The variety of native trees and shrubs selected for this shoreline naturalization project include red osier dogwood, elderberry, speckled alder, silky dogwood, and ninebark. These species provide many benefits including habitat for wildlife and stabilization of the shoreline around the pond. 

“We are pleased to collaborate with the City of Peterborough, who is responsible for the ongoing vegetation management and operation of the stormwater management pond, to engage local youth in naturalization projects like this,” shared Janette Loveys Smith, Otonabee Conservation’s CAO, “Opportunities like this, allow students to participate in positive, meaningful actions to mitigate climate change in our watershed.”

Students from Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, Adam Scott Collegiate Environment Club and local Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rangers from 1st Bridgenorth and 2nd Peterborough Armour-St. Luke’s and 15th Peterborough Salvation Army Scouts contributed 120 youth volunteers to complete the planting. Participants learned about the importance of planting native species of trees and shrubs and how planting trees can help lessen climate change impacts. These young environmental leaders also learned about the pathways people follow to work in the environmental sector along with the value of contributing to climate change solutions in their community.

In total, Otonabee Conservation, with generous support from community partners, planted 1,100 trees and shrubs this spring that will sequester over 220,000 kg of Carbon over their lifetime. 

For information about Otonabee Conservation’s tree planting initiatives, visit otonabeeconservation.com and follow Otonabee Conservation on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter at @OtonabeeC.

For more information contact:

Meredith Carter | Manager, Watershed Management Programs
Otonabee Conservation
mcarter@otonabeeconservation.com | 705-745-5791 x223