On Saturday, September 14th, over fifty volunteers planted 250 new trees and shrubs along the shoreline of the Millpond at Medd’s Mountain and along the Station Trail. This planting was part of TD Tree Days, in partnership with TD Canada Trust.
The native species planted, including Eastern White Cedar, Speckled Alder, Dogwood, Elderberry, Nannyberry, and Willow will support natural diversity and wildlife habitat. Otonabee Conservation staff were on site to provide technical support and share information about the value of trees within the natural environment.
Meredith Carter, Manager of Watershed Management programs for Otonabee Conservation, explained, “The planting of trees provides countless benefits from filtering the air we breathe, to regulating temperatures and providing shelter to wildlife. Trees also have a tremendous capacity to capture carbon dioxide, mitigating climate change.”
“Today’s TD Tree Days event supports TD’s Ready Commitment to help plant 1 million trees by 2030 in communities across the country,” Explained Erin McLeod, TD Canada Trust Employee and volunteer Site Leader. McLeod pointed out that more than 300,000 trees planted at TD Tree Days since 2010 have absorbed roughly 5,768 tonnes of CO2, which is equal to the emissions released from 1,235 passenger vehicles in just one year; over time, as these trees grow and mature, the amount of carbon they absorb will increase each year.
“The day was a great success,” Stated McLeod, “TD and so many community volunteers had a great time and did an amazing job, which speaks well of the commitment of TD staff, their families, and municipal support from the Township of Cavan Monaghan to improving the local environment and enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities through TD Tree Days.”
For more information about TD Tree Days, please visit tdtreedays.com
