Let's Get Planting! Join Trees Ontario for its annual Community Planting Weekend on May 4th

Support forest restoration by attending one of seven free planting events hosted across Ontario

TORONTO, March 27, 2013 /CNW/ - The community that plants together, grows together! On May 4th, Trees Ontario and local planting partners will host seven free community tree planting events across the province.

Hosted by Trees Ontario and supporting sponsors CAA South Central Ontario, CAA North & East Ontario and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, the annual Community Planting Weekend brings together families, community members and volunteers to take part in a half-day tree planting activity, promoting local engagement and environmental awareness. 

Participants will get the chance to directly support their community in a local reforestation project and learn about the benefits of trees, shade and green urban spaces. Last year, the event drew together more than 550 volunteers and a total of 3,275 trees were planted. 

The events are held rain or shine and participants are asked to bring a shovel, gardening gloves and a lot of energy! Trees Ontario and its partners will supply the rest - the trees, forestry specialists, mulch and snacks. Appropriate outdoor clothing, sturdy shoes (steel toe if possible), a hat and sunscreen are recommended. Parking and maps will be available at www.treesontario.ca. 

For more information and/or to register to participate in a free tree planting event, please click here. Times and locations are listed below.

Location	Time
Barrie Near 1904 Gill Road Midhurst, ON L0L 2K0	10 a.m. - noon
Kingston Lemoine Point Conservation Area 1990 Front Road Kingston, ON K7M 9A1	10 a.m. - noon
London North of 580 Sovereign Road London, ON N5V 4K8	10 a.m. - noon
Niagara Niagara Parkway and Whirlpool Road Parking available at 3731 Victoria Avenue Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6V5	10 a.m. - noon
Ottawa Richmond Conservation Area, Chanonhouse Park, 30 Chanonhouse Drive, Richmond, ON K0A 2Z0	10 a.m. - noon
Windsor Lakeshore Woods Park Firgrove Drive between Chateau Ave. and Banwell Rd. East Riverside, Windsor, ON	10 a.m. - noon
York Region 90 Bales Drive East East Gwillimbury, ON L0G 1V0	10 a.m. - noon

About Trees Ontario
Trees Ontario, the largest not-for-profit tree planting partnership in North America, is leading efforts to strengthen Ontario's tree planting infrastructure by enhancing the capacity of its tree planting partners through financial support and professional development expertise, delivering landowner incentives through cost offsetting and educating the public through awareness campaigns and community workshops. Trees Ontario is the lead delivery agent for the government of Ontario's 50 Million Tree Program. The program significantly cuts landowners' costs of large-scale tree planting and boosts the number of trees planted across the province. Visit www.treesontario.ca. 

About CAA South Central Ontario
CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club offering roadside services, automotive care, travel and insurance. There are more than 1.9 million CAA members in South Central Ontario and over 5.6 million members in Canada. We're more than Roadside Assistance. We're Life-side Assistance.

About CAA North & East Ontario
CAA North & East Ontario is a non-profit membership organization, providing travel, emergency road services, insurance and advocacy for its Members. Visit caaneo.ca. 

Image with caption: "Join Trees Ontario and its planting partners for the annual Community Planting Weekend on May 4th, from 10 a.m. to noon. Held in seven locations across Ontario, the event brings together communities to take part in a half-day tree planting activity. To view location details and/or to register, visit www.treesontario.ca/plantingweekend. (CNW Group/Trees Ontario)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130327_C8657_PHOTO_EN_24871.jpg

SOURCE: Trees Ontario

For more information, photos or to arrange an interview please contact: 

Shelley McKay
Marketing and Communications Manager
Trees Ontario
144 Front Street West, Suite 700, Toronto, ON,
M5J 2L7 
e: [email protected] 
p: 416-646-1193 ext. 232