lived near the Memorial Park since 1997. “I think it’s good
for the environment, it’s aesthetically pleasing, they do still
have walking paths through the area and nowadays, it’s
difficult to find things natural … I like it just because it’s
natural, it’s the way it should be.”
As the natural area became well-established, wood-chip
trails were added, and now offer a little slice of the wild in
the city. Several other city parks also offer naturalized areas
or woodlots.
Planting a tree can also be a significant way to
memorialize or commemorate a loved one or special
occasion. The City of Windsor offers a program
administered by Parks and Recreation. For a fee, you may
donate a tree to be planted in City parkland and maintained
by City personnel. The tree may be donated in memory of a
loved one, to celebrate a marriage or birth, to honour a
retiree, as a gift for a graduating student, or for any other
special occasion. The tree will be planted in an appropriate
site, chosen by the Manager of Forestry and Horticulture,
and can additionally be marked with an engraved plaque.
Applications for this program can be obtained by calling
311.
Heritage Forests have been established at three area
locations, memorializing loved ones and restoring areas to
their natural state. Over the past 18 years, a partnership
with the Reid Funeral Homes has restored a natural forest
by planting thousands of native trees, while honouring
loved ones. The Fred Cada Memorial Forest is part of the
Hillman Marsh Conservation Area. The trees planted over
the years have now begun to form a tree canopy and trail
as a truly natural forest has started to grow. In 2013 the
Reid Funeral Homes demonstrated their continued
commitment in leading this program with an $8,000
donation to plant more trees in this memorial forest.
Each seed and sapling planted holds the potential to
change the environment and our community. Even when
saplings won’t be able to provide many benefits
immediately, all these trees will change how future
generations live and breathe in Windsor. As Giroux would
say, the time to plant a tree was yesterday. So get out your
gardening gloves, a shovel and get dirty.
BY THE NUMBERS
200
Trees to be planted in
May at
Lakeshore Woods
3000
Trees planted in the
area by Scoutrees each
spring
120,000-140,000
Trees planted by ERCA
each spring
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519-254-6865
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