PUSLINCH – The Rotary Club of Guelph South arranged a tree planting to commemorate the club’s 20th anniversary and chose Sunrise Therapeutic Riding and Learning Centre as the venue.
An “Avenue of Trees” with a total of 20 trees were planted – 10 on each side – leading to the Jean Little Reading Circle, in memory of beloved Guelph children’s author Jean Little.
This Therapy and Memorial Forest at the Sunrise farm is already a combination of mature trees, saplings and 20 acres of seedling trees — the latter planted through the support of a provincial government grant towards this environmental project.
The forest was founded in 2019 and already many family members and friends have been remembered and honoured by the planting and naming of a tree or sapling or naming of benches in this emerging forest.
The trees planted by Rotary Club of Guelph South represent the climate change blending of the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence and the Carolinian forest ecosystems.
Ceremonial tree
“We are grateful for the guidance and assistance provided by Trees for Guelph,” read a press release by the Rotary club.
The ceremonial tree – the last planted – was a White Pine, the official tree for Ontario.
The Oct. 14 planting ceremony at Sunrise represented one of the few chances for face-to-face fellowship that the club members have had since the spring of 2020.
The club was honoured to have Rotary District 7080 governor Rudy Habesch and assistant district governor Tracey Curtis attend this very significant ceremony.
Rotarians both now and in the future will be able to watch these trees on their journey to maturity, club officials state.
These trees will be enjoyed by the hundreds of children and adults with special needs who visit the farm each year to attend the many programs offered and by the children who attend the inclusive summer day camps.
