This week includes National Tree Day, and the tree canopy in Belleville is improving.
The city has planted thousands of trees in parks and green spaces throughout Belleville since 2011 and the Rotary Club of Belleville has a mission to plant 50,000 trees.
Chair of the Rotary Loves Trees Committee, Melanie Cressman, tells Quinte News the club works closely with Quinte Conservation and the city on the project, which has been held up during the pandemic year.
Cressman says the idea is to make the city greener and it’s about the environment.
“So we’re really excited about being able to combine the two and bring something that Rotarians all over the world are passionate about and bring that right to the forefront here in Belleville.”
In 2019, Belleville adopted a tree canopy policy and the Green Task Force gives away thousands of tree seedlings to Belleville residents.
Mayor Mitch Panciuk spoke to Quinte News about National Tree Day.
“We understand that trees are so important, not just because it helps with oxygen for us to live off of, but also, it helps with erosion, and protects our community. It gives shade, all those kinds of things.”
“We are working right now on revising our tree canopy policy city but in the meantime we are going ahead with planting trees. Last weekend we planted over 1,500 trees in that one day along with Quinte Conservation and Rotary Club of Belleville.”
