A newly planted eco-buffer on a farm on Wellington Road 7 east of Palmerston shows a new way of creating a hedgerow.
The eco-buffer is made up of three rows of carefully-selected trees and shrubs that are mainly native species.
It is on land owned by Markus and Mary Ann Frei and a sign is posted by the road so people can see what an eco-buffer looks like as it grows. The trees are still small as this project was completed recently.
Through local projects like Trees for Mapleton, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) helps farmers and landowners plant trees on their properties. Many farmers plant a row or two of a single species as a field windbreak.
“We do lots of these and an eco-buffer has many similarities to this, but it improves the concept,” said Mark Funk, Trees for Mapleton coordinator.
An eco-buffer grows quickly, enhances biodiversity and provides pollinator habitat. In addition, it protects soil, water, livestock and crops.
The demonstration site was funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, which developed the concept and wants to see more eco-buffers.
Thanks to a connection made through Trees for Mapleton, this is the first eco-buffer installed by the GRCA in the Grand River watershed.
The eco-buffer has 10 different species of trees and shrubs that are planted a metre apart, and there are two metres between the rows.
The eco-buffer is 500 metres long.
“The area where we planted the eco-buffer was difficult for cropping because of its slopes and odd shape, so it was a good opportunity to plant some trees,” explains Markus Frei.
The Freis know well the value of trees because many years ago they spent time in Africa and saw the impact of a landscape devoid of trees.
“Our experience in Africa inspired us to do some tree planting at our property here in Wellington,” Frei says.
“All of the trees were being chopped for firewood and there was nothing left. It caused such devastation. We were involved with planting trees to help sustain the people; projects like building windbreaks and planting woodlots with appropriate local species so that there would be firewood for the people.”
He notes when trees and shade are along a ditch, it doesn’t need to be cleaned out as often. “It provides a lot of satisfaction to look at it and see all these trees growing,” Frei says.
For more information on an eco-buffer or other tree planting projects, contact Funk at 519-621-2763 ext. 2259 or email trees@grandriver.ca.
