Church branches out to beautify riverbank with help of non-profit

When members of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Winnipeg became concerned about the stability of the riverbank behind their Wellington Crescent meeting place, they decided to plant trees.

“We don’t have a lot of money to spend on the riverbank, but we wanted to do what we could,” said Diane Pearce, co-chair of the church’s property committee.

The congregation reached out to Trees Winnipeg for help. The non-profit organization, which is dedicated to promoting the benefits of trees in the city’s urban areas, not only provided the church with a good deal on 32 trees and shrubs, it also organized a planting project.

“Trees Winnipeg was awesome,” Pearce said. “They made it so easy for us to plant the trees.”

The trees and shrubs are thriving, despite curious deer who want to nibble on them, with members of the congregation taking turns to water them twice a week.

Pearce said not only will the trees help to stabilize the riverbank, but the move aligns with one of the seven principles that guide Unitarians of respecting the interdependent web of all existence.

“It’s part of our overall commitment to caring for the environment,” she said, adding “planting trees is also good for the spirit.”

Christian Cassidy, executive director of Trees Winnipeg, said the non-profit always reminds people the city doesn’t own enough land to replenish the canopy. He said many of the trees lost, including those to Dutch elm disease, were located on private property.

That includes property owned by places of worship.

“We tell people to speak to the pastor or board to see if places could be found on the grounds for trees. Aside from the benefits the trees give, in most faiths trees are very symbolic representing life, nourishment and growth,” Cassidy said.

In addition to First Unitarian, Trees Winnipeg has planted trees at other places of worship over the years including the Anglican Cathedral of St. John in the North End.

“Our arborist works with the congregation or board to scout out the right trees for the right places,” Cassidy said.

Of special interest to Trees Winnipeg is riverbank planting, especially in downtown neighbourhoods that have been most impacted by the loss of trees.

Word about their planting effort seems to have got around; last month someone left two trees in the church’s parking lot.

“We have no idea who left them, or why,” Pearce said. “We thought, we better plant them.”

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John Longhurst
Faith reporter

John Longhurst has been writing for Winnipeg's faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the U.S., and blogs about the media, marketing and communications at Making the News.

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