A group of people in Owen Sound gathered to celebrate their new seven-acre Urban Forest.
Representatives from the Grey Bruce Health Services, NeighbourWoods North, and volunteer tree planters commemorated the efforts involved in turning an empty field into a natural haven.
A plaque was unveiled over the weekend at the Owen Sound Regional Hospital in honour of the new natural area.
Over 3,000 trees were planted for phase one of the project, despite the challenges of a dry summer. There are future plans for pathways through the new forest.
“Lloyd Lewis of NeighbourWoods North and Dr. Gord Edwards approached GBHS with a multi-year plan to naturalize the Owen Sound Regional Hospital property less than a year ago,” said Mary Margaret Crapper, GBHS, chief, communications and public affairs. “They said they would find the funds, secure thousands of trees, organize hundreds of volunteers to plant, mulch, weed and water the trees, and that they would have it all done by the Fall of 2018. They’ve succeeded, and we are extremely grateful to everyone involved and very proud of the result.”
“This has been a huge community effort. With the help of over 100 volunteers, GBHS staff and physicians, we planted nearly 3,000 trees of varying species,” said Lewis.
