The Glebe Neighbourhood Canopy Regeneration Project
The Tree Team of the Glebe Community Association (GCA) needs your help to keep the streets of the Glebe leafy green for future generations.
Do you have a location on your property (front, back, side yard) or on the City road allowance in front of or beside your property that is suitable for a tree? Or have you identified tree gaps in other parts of the neighbourhood (e.g. on a particular block, or near a public building)? Please tell us. Email: environment@glebeca.ca with Tree Team in the subject line.
We can offer advice on tapping into City programs (such as Trees in Trust), and on selecting and planting trees on your own. And, with your input, we will be preparing a Glebe plan to submit to the City that will recommend both residential and streetscape plantings.
The Tree Team
The Tree Team is a subgroup of the GCA Environment Committee. We’re keen to ensure that our community has the canopy it needs for so many reasons: environmental, health, social – not to mention aesthetics!
Tree canopy regeneration is critical to older urban neighbourhoods such as ours. Many of the Glebe’s trees are mature, many are reaching the end of their lifespan. Red X’s indicating imminent removal appear regularly on trees along our streets and avenues. Acting quickly, either by planting a successor tree while a mature tree is still viable, or by a new planting after removal, makes a green Glebe possible for us and for future generations of Glebe residents. Our Tree Team can offer advice on obtaining trees (from the City or on your own, depending on tree location) and on kinds of trees to consider.
Why is selection important? Not all trees are canopy trees. We encourage residents whose frontage has no overhead wires to plant canopy trees. Also, since it takes years for saplings to grow to become shade trees, the best time to plant is now. Just as important is taking steps to protect the existing mature canopy trees so they can continue to provide shade and other benefits as long as possible.
Who else is involved?
The Tree Team is participating in the Neighbourhood Canopy Regeneration Project of Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES), in partnership with Ecology Ottawa, with the support of a grant from the City of Ottawa. We are also delighted to have communications support from Carleton University students in a course entitled Foundations in Community Engagement.
The CAFES project links up with the City of Ottawa’s new Official Plan (OP) and the concept of 15-minute neighbourhoods having access to greenspace and tree canopy comprising 40% of the urban area.
For CAFES Resources including the Ottawa Urban Tree Manual, see: cafesottawa.ca.
Questions?
Email: environment@glebeca.ca with Tree Team in the subject line.