Students at John Black Public School did their part for the environment recently by planting trees to spruce up the school yard.
Grade 2/3 teacher Terra Matheson-Peck was joined by her students on May 16 to plant 11 trees around the terraced stone garden at the school.
The trees were provided by NeighbourWoods in conjunction with the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.
In addition to the recent plantings at John Black, similar plantings were completed at St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Elora Public School, JD Hogarth and Ponsonby Public School.
“The planting is to create shade and outdoor classroom space,” Matheson-Peck said of the trees.
Alex Watts, project coordinator of the NeighbourWoods Destination School Yard Trees program, said the planting is a project to replace Elm trees that will be lost due to the arrival of the Emerald Ash Borer.
“We’re planting a mix of trees,” Watts said.
The trees will provide shade, as well as a nesting opportunities for birds, she explained.
John Black students added notes that were buried with the trees they planted.
“The students have little notes to mother nature and they’re ripping them up and planting them with the tree,” Watts said.
“They’re going to name their trees and measure them so they can come back next year and measure the trees again to see how much they’ve grown.”
NeighbourWoods also ensures regular maintenance of the new trees.
“It is essential that all new trees get watered for at least three years while the trees become established,” a media release from the organization stated.
“Since students and teachers will be on summer holidays, NeighbourWoods is looking for volunteers in the community who would be willing to help one week of the summer, by simply watering the young trees.”
NeighbourWoods asks anyone interested in helping the students keep their young trees growing throughout the summer months to call the Elora Environment Centre at 519-846-0841 for information.
NeighbourWoods on the Grand is a branch of the Elora Environment Centre working to rebuild the community tree canopy through tree planting, stewardship, public education and advocacy.
The organization’s mission is to advocate for the health, protection and regeneration of urban trees through public involvement in education, celebration and stewardship.
Matheson-Peck said the plan at the school will eventually include garden planting.
