Volunteers hold tree giveaway on Harte Trail

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This article was published 20/07/2020 (1930 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Harte Trail Spring Tree Plant is a little different this year.

Instead of organizing a large event, the Friends of the Harte Trail have given away 300 trees for residents to plant in their homes and gardens.

The first Friends of the Harte Trail Free Tree Giveaway took place on July 8, between 3 and 6 p.m. Volunteers gave away white spruce, golden willow and prairie grove poplar trees, approximately 12” tall, which are easy to take care of in Manitoba’s climate.

Phil Jenkinson, president of the Friends of the Harte Trail, said this is a way to promote environmental stewardship while respecting physical distancing.

“Back when we (cancelled the 2020 Spring Cleanup), we were uncertain whether we’d be able to have a physical gathering. Typically, we do (the Spring Tree Plant) on National Trails Day, and we’re not comfortable doing that this year,” Jenkinson said. “We could plant trees by hiring a contractor … but the whole point is to get the community involved. Now, people can come by for a quick chat, take a small tree and head off on their way home.”

The friends usually hold a spring and fall tree plant, a large event where community members and volunteers plant over 100 trees along the trail. Due to the physical distancing requirements mandated by the province, the organization has cancelled its spring events, opting instead to give trees away for residents to plant on their own.

Jenkinson said the friends are committed to Mayor Brian Bowman’s “One Million Tree Challenge.” The challenge, issued in September 2019, calls on residents to plant one million trees over the next 20 years, as the city’s population rises to the same number.

Unfortunately, Winnipeg has been losing a lot of greenery lately. The city is at risk of losing approximately two-thirds of its urban canopy, due to factors that include Dutch elm disease, sudden storms, and climate change. Last year, approximately 9,300 elm trees were marked to be removed.

So far, residents are doing their part to save the environment. Jenkinson said they received a lot of interest from Charleswood residents, with some asking to take home more than 10 trees before they held the giveaway.

He said even planting three trees a month makes a big difference.

“If we could get everyone on the same page, imagine how easy it would be to save the environment? The trees are small and the cost is low, if each individual planted three trees a month, that would go a long way,” Jenkinson said. “We’re a very green city. But we’re losing our trees, things like the storm we had last October, Dutch elm … We need to keep planting more trees.”

A recent study by Swiss scientists suggests that planting more trees might be an effective way to mitigate climate change. If residents plant younger trees, as they grow, they absorb more carbon dioxide.

Jenkinson said they have access to more trees, if there’s more demand. The organization is looking at other ways to promote environmental stewardship, by possibly holding another tree giveaway.

For more information, or to donate, visit hartetrail.com