By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Northumberland County has announced that its Emerald Ash Borer Replacement Tree Program is back for a second year, following a successful 2019 program that saw 12,000 trees planted.
The county invites residents to apply to obtain tree saplings at no charge this spring, as part of a five-year program subsidized by the county.
Northumberland residents can apply to receive from 10 to 150 trees to plant on private property, with orders accepted until Feb. 14 and (while supplies last) processed on a first-come-first-served basis. Successful applicants can pick up their saplings in the spring at the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority in Port Hope.
Expanding on the program, Northumberland’s Natural and Cultural Heritage Manager Todd Farrell said that the aim is to distribute 12,000 trees annually, for a total of 60,000 trees subsidized over the course of the five years.
“Our first year of the program was a great success, and we look forward to continuing to foster a biodiverse local ecosystem with another 12,000 subsidized native saplings being distributed throughout Northumberland this year,” Farrell said.
This program is designed to replace trees that are being removed as part of the county’s 10-year plan to remove and replace hazardous trees from county rights-of-way – preventing injury and damage from trees falling due to infection from the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive boring insect that attacks and kills ash trees. For each ash tree removed along county roads as part of the 10-year plan, the county will subsidize approximately 10 native trees for residents to plant on private property.
“This program is a great opportunity to enhance your property while contributing to a thriving ecological community,” GRCA Stewardship Technician Pam Lancaster stated in the announcement.
“We look forward to partnering with Northumberland County on the delivery of the EAB Replacement Tree Program again this year.”
For more information about the program and to apply to receive free saplings, visit www.grca.on.ca/programs-stewardship.
For more information about the Emerald Ash Borer and the EAB Management Plan, visit Northumberland.ca/EABplan.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
