Reep Green Solutions to plant 5,000 trees along Wellesley roadsides by 2027

Galen Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

By 2027, there could be as many as 5,000 new trees planted along roadsides in Wellesley Township, and another 4,000 trees planted along roadsides in Wilmot Township.

While presenting the 2024-2025 annual impact report for environmental charity Reep Green Solutions – the 25th annual report drafted by the organization – executive director Patrick Gilbride told Wellesley council at its Sept. 30 meeting that, as part of its efforts to enhance tree canopy in the region, the organization will begin planting a total of 9,000 native trees along roadsides in both townships this week.

“Starting this fall, inspired by Trees for Woolwich – you might have seen the tubes if you’re driving through Woolwich – we are teaming up with the Region of Waterloo and the Townships of Wellesley and Wilmot to expand this tree-planting program to roadsides in these townships,” Gilbride said.

“We secured some funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to do this, and we know this will help bring more trees and biodiversity to our rural roadsides.”

Funded in partnership with FCM, both townships, the region and Reep Green Solutions, the 5,000 trees earmarked for Wellesley Township will be planted along roads including Moser-Young Road, Weimar Line, Kressler Road, Lobsinger Line, Hutchison Road, Ament Line, William Hastings Line and Manser Road.

When contacted for locations of the Wilmot trees, Reep Green Solutions did not provide specific locations, only indicating they would be planted along roadsides in Wilmot.

Gilbride said roughly 2,000 trees will go into the ground by November and then planting will continue next year.

“We know there’s opportunity to plant more as well,” Gilbride said. “We’re hoping that this is sort of the start. Really, we want to make this a proof of concept so that we can pursue additional funding to plant more.

“ … In addition, the planning for this project has helped to facilitate the development of a shared platform for the tracking of tree inventory and asset management for roadside trees in the right-of-way, which, to be honest, there has been a lack and there hasn’t been that information sharing across different municipalities in the region. So, we’re really excited that there’s some side benefits to this work.”

In addition to the new Roadside Tree Planting program, Gilbride also shared information on Reep Green Solutions’ other programs, including the native tree nursery, which produced 10,000 saplings in its first year; the Energuide Home Energy Evaluation; the Heat Pump Right-Sizing program; the Healthy Yards and Neighbourhoods program; the Community Canopy project; and Climate Action WR among others.

Over the course of its 25-year history, Reep Green Solutions has helped or encouraged the communities it serves to invest $79 million in local renovations and retrofits, helped homeowners save a combined $8 million through its energy programs and helped homeowners reduce a combined 30,000 tonnes of emissions through its Homeowner Energy Efficiency Consultations.

For more information on Reep Green Solutions and the programs and services it offers, visit reepgreen.ca.