Growing Oak Bay’s urban forest on Tree Appreciation Day

Join Oak Bay Parks and the Friends of Uplands Park for Tree Appreciation Day from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Nov. 4.

The event is fun for all ages, with hands-on activities including learning how to transplant seedlings, plant trees, and grow a Garry oak from an acorn.

There will be conversation about native plants and invasive species, what species are ideal for Oak Bay, information on pests, proper pruning and more. Ron Carter will lead tree walks.

Boasting one of the highest concentrations of endangered plants in Canada, Uplands Park contains a rare ecosystem complex of Garry oak meadows and woodlands, maritime meadows and vernal pools, that years ago, covered a much greater area in the region.

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Part of Oak Bay’s urban forest vision, laid out in the Urban Forest Management Strategy, is to protect and enhance the tree canopy cover in the District to approach 40 per cent by 2045, by supporting a healthy, well -adapted and diverse tree population.

The goal is to plant 1,400 new trees on public land and for the District to work with residents and institutions to plant 5,000 new trees on private property.

The event starts at the entrance to Uplands Park at Dorset Rd. Tools and gloves are provided for those who want to dig in, or feel free to bring your own.