TREES PLANTED

Heather Moyse Heritage Park blossoms as more than 100 trees are planted

Heather Moyse Heritage Park will someday transition into a forest of evergreens.

Heather Moyse Heritage Park will someday transition into a forest of evergreens and vibrant hues, say local organizers of the National Tree Planting Day initiative.

More than 100 trees were planted one recent Saturday morning in celebration of the special day.

Bruce Smith of Tree Canada says the trees contribute to human health, as well as provide a healthier ecosystem.

“This (nationwide) event is primarily oriented to urban sites, so people can go out and enjoy nature,” he explained. “And the trees themselves absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, and provide a habitat for animals, as well as a place for people to walk, get better, and be out in nature.”

Representatives from the City of Summerside teamed up with employees from Callbecks Home Hardware Building Centre, Summerside Home Furniture, Scouts Canada (Beavers), and the Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association (BBEMA) for the event.

The groups branched out, with spades in hand, and planted native coniferous and deciduous trees, as well as shrubs, around the park to provide a dazzling display of colour for every season.

“This is my way of giving back to the community and helping the environment,” said Chris Barlow, a representative from the City of Summerside.

The province of P.E.I. donated 60 of the smaller onegallon trees, and Home Hardware provided funds for 46 large 10-gallon trees.

“The trees from (the province) are larch, hemlock, white pine and cedar. And the larger ones that came from Arbor Nursery are sugar maple, red maple, oak, hemlock, and large white pine,” said Smith.

According to Chris Newell, a representative from BBEMA, the tree planting is part of a larger Summerside project.

“The tree planting that’s being held by Tree Canada and the City of Summerside today ties really well into our biodiversity project that we are doing in the city. We are looking to enhance the habitat for wildlife, and for residents to use. So by enhancing this park it’s really going to benefit the city in the long run.”

He said, “We’ve had a lot of residents stop in, who frequent the park often, and they are very happy to see what’s going on here.”

DESIREE ANSTEY/ JOURNAL PIONEER Chris Barlow shovels dirt around a newly planted evergreen tree in Heather Moyse Heritage Park while Matt Smith, both representatives of the City of Summerside, firms the ground so the tree grows healthy.