Thank you to all participants and sponsors who helped make our May 5th tree planting a success!

A big thank you to Evergreen & Walmart for supporting Sierra Club Ontario’s 12th Annual Earth Day Mississauga Tree Planting.

Community tree plantings increase green space in Ontario while developing connections between citizens and nature. Sierra Club Ontario’s Peel Group enjoys a long-standing cooperative relationship with Credit Valley Conservation to engage and educate the public in environmental programs. This year’s event took place Saturday, May 5th 2012 at McLaughlin Pond. Originally created as a stormwater pond, the site now serves as wildlife habitat and was carefully selected to enrich it for both flora and fauna. First-arrivers to the event found a pair of orioles fluttering about and the plants surrounding the water’s edge featured red-wing blackbirds and native butterflies all day.

Background of participants varied widely reflecting the ethnically diverse community of Mississauga. Participants included students from local secondary schools, students and instructors from nearby Sheridan College, seniors from Xintiandi Seniors’ Association, employees from EllisDon Corporation Mississauga, Sierra Club volunteers, families and residents of all ages. The local Rogers TV crew was also on hand to film the event. Overall, the more than 70 participants planted 300 trees. The energetic participants continued to enhance and restore the site by removing 8 yard waste bags stuffed with Garlic Mustard – an aggressive exotic species in Southern Ontario that out-competes native woodland plants.

In the end, the May 5th tree planting was a successful event with beautiful weather that surely helped in the pleasing turn out. We would like to thank everyone who graciously contributed their time or money to this event.