As part of Oakville’s annual Arbor Day celebrations, Mayor Rob Burton launched a woodlands restoration project at Sheridan Valley Park. The project, sponsored by Union Gas, saw over 200 trees planted to enhance Oakville’s tree canopy and regenerate the woodland affected by Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).
“We want to thank Union Gas. Together with support from our community partners, Oakville is leading the way in EAB management,” said Mayor Burton. “If we continue to work together we’ll protect and enhance our tree canopy for future generations, and create an even cleaner, greener Oakville.”
The morning’s activities began with the planting of native seedlings and saplings by community volunteers including staff and students from Holy Family School. Town staff also planted two sizeable Oak trees at the park.
Diane Murray, strategic account manager at Union Gas, and a member of her company’s Green Team, was on hand to present the Mayor with a cheque for $4,000 to support the restoration project.
Also during the event, Mayor Burton declared the first week of June to be Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week and encouraged residents to learn more about EAB and follow the town’s lead to treat or remove and replace their ash trees.
The town is continuing treatment of healthy public ash trees on streets and in parks with the biological insecticide TreeAzin. Dead and dying ash trees are being removed from streets, parks and woodlands for public safety and to minimize the spread of EAB.
By maintaining its sustainable and environmentally responsible forest management, the town has expanded its Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification to include all 282 woodland properties. The mayor unveiled the FSC certification sign to be installed at the park.