If so, the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA) can assist you in your planting plans. Many options are available to landowners, and qualified staff can help you select the best methods to increase native trees and shrubs on your property.

The GRCA's vision, "Clean water healthy land for healthy communities" draws the important connection between a healthy watershed and healthy, strong sustainable communities. Together and through the use of native plants, a range of benefits can be accomplished.

*  Increased forest cover;

*  Improved water quality; and

*  Reduced erosion, sedimentation and flood potential.

*  Decreased home energy costs;

*  Enhanced wildlife habitat; and

*  Increased property values and aesthetics.

Whether it is 1 tree or 1000, many options exist for a landowner. If you are unsure of how to begin your tree planting project, ask for a free site visit. GRCA staff can help you determine a planting location, suitable species and a planting plan.

Once a planting plan is in place, consider planting trees yourself or with your family. Tree and shrub seedlings can be ordered through the GRCA Tree Seedling Program. This program allows landowners to take advantage of bulk order prices. There is a minimum order of 25 seedlings of one species, with increments of 25 seedlings per species. Prices for seedlings range from $0.50 to $1.35 each and there is a $20.00 administration fee.

Another option is to have the GRCA plant tree and shrub seedlings for you through the GRCA Tree Planting Program. Seedlings are either hand planted or machine planted, depending on site conditions. There is a minimum order of 500 seedlings. Costs vary depending on species, planting method and pre and post-tending methods. The GRCA offers several funding opportunities to offset the cost of tree planting for landowners. 

Even if you do not have a lot of land on which to plant trees, you can still add the value of trees and shrubs to your property by planting along stream, river and pond banks. Vegetation along streams and rivers has many benefits. The roots of the plants hold the banks together, and the branches and roots reduce the speed of the water, which would otherwise erode unprotected banks. Technical assistance and funding is available to landowners interested in Stream Bank Shrub and Tree Planting.

Planting and tending of trees requires an investment of land, time and money. Gone are the days of free or one cent seedlings. In acknowledgement of the considerable investment in tree planting, funding is available to landowners.

The GRCA Clean Water- Healthy Land Financial Assistance Program is available to residents of the Municipality of Clarington (Ward 4), Municipality of Port Hope and Township of Hamilton. This municipally funded program covers the costs of tree planting at a rate of 50% of the total before tax to a maximum of $2,500.00. Landowners must purchase a minimum of 500 seedlings to qualify. Seedlings cannot be used for the establishment of Christmas tree farms, orchards or maple sugar bush.

Trees for Rural Roads

The GRCA has also partnered with the Municipality of Clarington, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority and the Municipality of Port Hope again for 2015 to provide free trees to Clarington and Port Hope residents to plant along the rural road side on their property. The goal is to restore the trees that once lined rural roads, an initiative that was started in the 1870s across the province - check out the Trees for Rural Roads Program for 2015!

The Ontario government has committed to plant 50 million trees by 2025 to help fight climate change and re-green the province. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has partnered with Forests Ontario to plant trees on rural lands across southern Ontario. Forests Ontario, the largest not-for-profit tree planting partnership in North America, works with local tree planting agencies, including the GRCA, to deliver the 50 Million Tree Program.

This program is designed to significantly reduce landowner's costs of large-scale tree planting and in turn increase the number of trees planted. The GRCA will work directly with landowners to determine site eligibility, allocate funding and coordinate planting.

For more information on tree planting with the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, please contact Kestrel Wraggett, Stewardship Technician - 905.885.8173 ext 247, [email protected]

www.grca.on.ca