Trio of local initiatives are planned for Earth Week
In celebration of Earth Week, the City of Peterborough has planned three significant initiatives to raise awareness about the role everyone plays in protecting the environment.
The three events are: The Great Community Litter Clean-up on April 27 and 28; the City Nature Challenge on April 26 and 27; and the kickoff to the city’s 2024 treeplanting program.
“Peterborough has a great number of individuals and organizations that are committed to the well-being of our environment,” stated Mayor Jeff Leal in a news release Thursday. “There is work happening year-round to reduce greenhouse gases and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Earth Week is a time to come together to take action for the betterment of our planet.”
Residents can attend the promotional announcement for The Great Community Litter Clean-up on April 22 at 1 p.m. at the Beavermead Park Pavilion.
Friends and family are then encouraged to register to clean up their favourite park, green space, trail or forest on April 27 and 28.
Groups can register for a cleanup location on the city’s website and receive a free litter cleanup kit and arrange a designated time and location for Public Works staff to collect the garbage. Kits will be available for pickup by registered groups at the Public Works office at 791 Webber Ave., during business hours, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Those participating are also encouraged to post photos to social media using the hashtag #PtboLitterAction and tag @CityPtbo.
“We’re happy to be working in collaboration with engaged community organizations to protect our creeks, wetlands, greenspaces and public spaces from the harms of trash, litter and hazardous waste,” stated Coun. Joy Lachica, council representative on the Peterborough Environmental Advisory Committee. “Earth Day mobilizes over a billion people annually in environmental protection efforts and I’m proud that Peterborough is part of the movement.”
This will be Peterborough’s second year participating in the City Nature Challenge Community BioBlitz, which is a competition to record nature sightings in communities across the globe April 26 and 27.
Taking place in Ecology Park, Beavermead Park and Farmcrest Park, all observations will be confirmed and tallied as part of the community’s official submission to the worldwide challenge. Specific group searches are planned for various wildlife, plants and mushrooms.
Details on how to participate in the City Nature Challenge are online at peterborough.ca/Nature.
Lastly, the city’s 2024 Urban Forestry Plan, which includes planting 1,000 new trees throughout city streets and parks, is scheduled to kick off during Earth Week. The city’s news release highlights the important benefits trees provide the community, including improvement of air quality, minimization of noise and dust and reduced storm water runoff.
“We hope you can be part of Earth Week 2024,” stated Leal.
Friends and family are then encouraged to register to clean up their favourite park, green space, trail or forest on April 27 and 28