Wellington County has marked another milestone in its ambitious Green Legacy Program, which it describes as the largest municipal tree-planting program in North America.
Since 2004, over 1.4 million trees have been planted throughout the county, and now a new Northern Tree Nursery has been officially opened in the northern part of the county, a news release said.
The nursery’s official opening on Oct. 1 followed the planting of more than 1,500 trees on Grand River Conservation Authority land west of Damascus. Doing the planting were about 100 County of Wellington and Township of Wellington North councillors, employees and their families, who were participating in the seventh annual Warden’s Tree Planting Day.
The Northern Tree Nursery property, developed through a partnership that includes the GRCA and the Upper Grand District School Board, includes three greenhouses and an outdoor activity area.
“The Green Legacy Tree Nursery expansion stands as a tribute to the county’s commitment to enhancing tree coverage throughout the county,” Warden Chris White said in the release. He thanked county council, the Upper Grand school board and the GRCA for their “partnership and vision in creating this project.”
“Each year, approximately 4,500 people volunteer over 16,000 hours to help make Wellington greener,” said county councillor Shawn Watters, who chairs the county’s planning committee.
“I’d like thank all our community partners who have helped make the Green Legacy Program a success,”