Thousands of trees for Belleville

A major tree planting operation will take place in Belleville over the first few days of May.

Quinte Conservation is planning a major planting of trees, shrubs and wildflowers at Clarence Bird Park.

Outreach and Stewardship Coordinator Maya Navrot tells Quinte News, “When we’re looking to replant areas we want to get a diversity of species in there and we’re trying to pick native species that are very suitable for the site and to replicate all layers of the forest.”

“So when we do diversity plantings the next slug or pest that takes a specific species won’t wipe out a good part the trees.”

The Rotary Club of Belleville is co-sponsoring the tree planting which will see 3,000 trees go into the ground Sunday and next Tuesday mornings.

Navrot indicates there have been many tree planting programs carried out with the city.

“Increase urban tree cover through our municipal spaces. So this is one of several plantings that we’ve done in partnership with Belleville on their properties.”

She adds, “The planting at the park is primarily funded by a grant through Tree Canada but we also have some TD Friends of the Environment support through the Rotary Club of Belleville for this site as well as a number of other city sites.”

Native tree and shrub species that will be planted include: White Spruce, White Cedar, Tamarack, White Pine, White Oak, Silver Maple, Sugar Maple, Birch, Nannyberry, Highbush Cranberry, Ninebark, Dogwoods, Arrowwood, American Elderberry and Meadowsweet.

The public is invited to the tree plantings at the park at Hampton Ridge Drive in Belleville (north of Maitland Drive).