Project type: Neighbourhood ReLeaf
Year: 2016
Season: Spring
The extreme wind didn’t keep people away from the event, though it kept many of our trees from staying upright. Thirty-six ReForest volunteers and dozens of residents gathered at Banting Secondary School for the Medway Tree Blitz. Ward 7 Councillor, Josh Morgan, was on hand to help kick off the event. He thanked the assembled volunteers for helping to eliminate barriers and for their hard work greening the neighbourhood. His daughters were eager to help hand out buttons to the line up of around twenty people ready to pick their trees out at the Tree Depot.
Brad (longtime ReForest volunteer and worked at ReForest London for 9 months as the Projects Assistant) and Shirley (a GIS volunteer) were excited to get their day started. They found success at the 9th house on their route and really took the time to educate residents about ReForest London and the needs of the specific tree they were planting.
Brianne (ReForest School Community Tree Challenge Coordinator), her friend Matt and his son, Alex, planted a Blue Beech for a local resident. Trees are important to Alex because they “help to clean the air, give shade, and are a lot of fun to climb!”
All told, over 50 trees were planted in the community and over 200 were picked up at the Tree Depot. Another exciting and successful step towards re-greening the city of London and reclaim its moniker, The Forest City!
Thank you to the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Richard and Beryl Ivey, a fund within the London Community Foundation, TreeMe and the City of London and KPMG for being lead funders on this project.
