Tree Plant Weekend!

WE’VE GOT SHADE!!!

34 trees of approximately 18-feet in height were planted on Saturday, May 31^st.

Yes, you read that right. 18-feet high! These were not saplings. And, yes, you also got the number right. 34!!!

Four trees were added to the library side of the school along Lemon and St. Catherine’s as two trees there need to be removed soon. One of these new trees is right in the top corner of the ‘kindy pen’ and will fill in the shade gap that existed there for our tiniest students.

Our barren, treeless schoolyard on the grade 1 – 8 side of Ecole King George is now a transformed place! 29 trees were added and are already providing small patches of shade. In a few short years, these trees will be providing glorious shade all along St. Catherine’s Street and the Eramosa Street fence. This shade option will provide some respite for the kids playing soccer or doing basketball and other games on the blazing hot tarmac. Until now, there had been no shelter from the sun for the kids.

VOLUNTEERS WERE AMAZING

39 volunteers worked together in a truly heartwarming display of commitment to their school community. Some volunteers only had an hour and a half to contribute while other volunteers stayed ALL DAY. Incredible! Tireless parents on kid-minding duty had up to 30 children in their care playing in the kindy pen. Kids joined their parents at the tree sites once the mini excavator departed the scene. What a feel-good family event! 8 volunteers returned on Sunday morning for several hours to complete the finishing touches.

Volunteers cared for the kids, hauled trees around, measured root balls, finished hand digging tree holes, wheel barrowed compost, wrestled trees, unwrapped trees and trunks, backfilled, watered, tamped, made tree 'doughnuts', pounded stakes, wrapped fencing, filled holes, went for coffee runs, took pictures and video, shovelled excess soil into the truck, harvested and spread mulch from the 'beach', moved edging, raked soil out of the grass, watered and oh so much more!

Folks were smiling despite moving heavy trees with wheelbarrows, wrestling enormous root balls into the ground and having 105 tree stakes to pound in. There may have been a few sore backs among the crew but there were lots of smiles and huge sense of community commitment!

Several of the volunteers gave up the majority of their weekend to this project and the Greening & Grounds Committee is so very grateful. It is amazing to see the level of commitment shown to fulfilling the vision of the Nurture Nature Playscape plan (click here for the plan).

WE ALL NEED TREES

Along with the much-needed shade, this new ‘mini-arboretum’ of trees provides biodiversity to the largely turf grass space, improves air quality and adds a touch of beauty. More than just a touch really. It is truly stunning!

14 different species were added to the existing array of boulevard maples and ginkgo’s. All 14 are native and non-invasive and have been chosen to create a stratified canopy at their full heights. Thirteen of the trees will be top canopy and seventeen trees will merge underneath as feature trees. These trees have been carefully chosen to provide future study opportunities for students. Several have interesting bark features; others have unique leaf shapes; while others were chosen for their spring blooms or their fall colour.

MANY THANKS TO OUR DONORS AND SUPPORTERS

30 of the trees were provided by Podium Developments (www.podiumdevelopments.com) through an arrangement with the City of Guelph. The purchase of the trees for Ecole King George is in lieu of a portion of their tree canopy replacement development charges incurred from their build at 803 Gordon Street. Four additional trees were paid for from school and community fundraising efforts. Thanks to Terry Vanderkruk from Connon Nurseries (www.connon.ca) who worked so hard sourcing our trees and for providing us and Podium with such excellent pricing.

Thanks also to Sharpe Farm Supplies (www.sharpefarmsupplies.com) for such great pricing on the tree stakes. Murray Johnston of A-MURCAT Backhoe Services (www.guelphmercury.com/shopping-story/4223074--a-murcat-backhoe-services) was kind enough to work on a Saturday and alongside of our parent work crew.

CHECK OUT THIS SLIDESHOW WITH MORE PICTURES FROM TREE PLANTING!

NEXT STEPS

Four yards of mulch arrives from the school board on June 15^th and classes of students will be placing on the tree doughnuts to do their part. A professional watering service starts soon to help ensure that these trees flourish. They will also be providing periodic tree health checks by a horticultural technician. We are committed to supporting these trees!

VISIT US AT THE FUN FAIR

Stop by the Greening & Grounds Committee table at the Fun Fair on June 11^th. We will have photos from the tree plant and a copy of the playscape plan. We are also accepting donations to help us fund the remaining features. Has your family made your contribution yet? You can also donate in honour of your student’s teacher and the teacher receives a lovely card noting your gift.