ARTHUR – In an open grassy area by the headwaters of the Conestogo River in Arthur, approximately 100 people took up shovels on Oct. 2 to transform the meadow into a forest.
The 19th annual Warden’s Tree Planting, organized by the county’s Green Legacy program, saw approximately 900 trees and shrubs of 36 different varieties planted over the course of a couple of hours that morning.
The people doing the work were mostly employees of Wellington County and member municipalities, who happily traded their office attire for work boots and a chance to get their hands dirty in the fresh air and sunshine.
“When we get to get out, it’s great,” said Jessie McGibbon, who works in the county’s communications department.
Along with employees, who get a chance to volunteer for the event, multiple county councillors also took part, with Wellington North Mayor and county Warden Andy Lennox already hard at work, even before the busload of volunteers arrived.
In a news release following the event, Lennox remarked on the value of the now two-decades-old Green Legacy program.
“From its humble beginnings in 2004, the Green Legacy has grown into a vital part of Wellington County’s environmental efforts,” Lennox stated.
“Celebrating 20 years is a testament to our collective commitment to sustainability and the ongoing benefits of tree planting.
“It is inspiring to see our employees come together each year to make a lasting impact on our environment.”
More than 20,000 trees have been planted by staff volunteers since the first Warden’s Tree Planting at the Wellington County Museum and Archives in 2006, with locations ranging from conservation areas and parks to farms, municipal properties and more.
Planting sites are typically located within the warden’s municipality, and this is the second year in a row the event has been held in Arthur.
This year’s site is a riparian zone, managed by the Grand River Conservation Authority, that floods often in the spring, said Green Legacy manager Rob Johnson.
The area, which already had a few scattered trees throughout and more around the perimeter, was mostly home to grasses and wildflowers, such as goldenrod and aster, he explained.
“It will come back to all that as the trees grow, but eventually it will be a forest,” Johnson said.
He had spent the previous day strategically placing the young potted trees throughout the site in spots they should be planted.
Closest to the river, he placed trees such as cedar that can handle long periods of time in the water before they start to drown.
Varieties like red oak and white pine he reserved for “the higher, dryer locations” nearer to the road, he said.
Johnson said he even included some Carolinian varieties, such as sycamore, which might not be expected to do as well so far north, because he’s finding they can handle the changing climate.
“We’re not getting the cold temperatures we used to,” he said.
In the news release, Johnson emphasized the event is not only about the trees.
“It is about fostering teamwork among our staff and engaging our employees in meaningful environmental stewardship,” he stated.
“Each tree we plant today is contributing to a healthier environment for our future generations from a variety of perspectives.”
Johnson said the Green Legacy program has seen a total of 3.36 million trees planted since its inception, and that number will only continue to grow.
“The fall starts the new season, because all the trees we’ve grown this summer start going out in the spring,” Johnson said.
Municipal tree orders for 2025 officially opened on Oct. 1.
For more information and to order trees, visit www.wellington.ca/programmes-services/green-legacy/order-trees.
