289-233-0095Oakville – On May 14, 2016, about 60 community volunteers planted 750 trees at Shannon Creek Trail to help reforest the woodland which lost its ash trees due to Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). At the event, Acting Mayor, Councillor Marc Grant recognized Union Gas for their sponsorship of this woodlands restoration project. This is the third year Union Gas has supported the town’s Canopy Conservation program.
“Today’s event celebrates our community’s interest in creating an even cleaner, greener Oakville,” Councillor Grant said. “On behalf of Town Council I wish to thank Union Gas and all our planters today for your commitment to preserving our tree canopy.”
Volunteer planters included a large team of Sheridan College alumni.
Prior to the community planting, town staff planted six sizeable oak trees at the site. Councillor Grant along with Jalil Hashemi, acting manager, Forestry Services and Mark Egbedeyi-Emmanuel, Union Gas district manager for Hamilton/Halton pitched in to spread the last shovel of mulch.
“Environmental conservation is important to Union Gas and it’s a common goal we share with the Town of Oakville” said Mark Egbedeyi-Emmanuel. “The Canopy Conservation Program is an enormous benefit to the community and we’re excited to partner once again on this initiative.”
Last year, the town began removing dead and dying ash trees destroyed by EAB from the town’s woodlands to ensure public safety and to help the woodlands renew. While natural regeneration will account for most of the regrowth in the town’s woodlands, Shannon Creek Trail was identified as a prime site for restoration to help the forest regrow more rapidly with desirable native species. Earlier in the month, over 2,000 trees and shrubs were planted at Clearview Woods.
For more information, visit the Woodlands Hazard Abatement page.
