The 20th annual Branches and Banks tree planting and watershed cleanup will take place along the banks in Cochrane May 29-30.
Glenbow students will be planting along the banks of Big Hill Springs Creek throughout the community of Glenbow during the morning of May 29.
Public planting will take place from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the far east end of Griffin Road near the off-leash parking lot (across from the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre parking lot); registration and a light breakfast begins at 9 a.m. and a light lunch around 11:30 a.m. Anyone is welcome to attend but is encouraged to RSVP to [email protected].
At the same time, wetland planting will be ongoing around Cochrane Toyota. Planters should arrive in suitable attire for staying dry and keeping warm, equipped with gloves, shovels and a water bottle.
“Each year we work closely with the Town of Cochrane parks department and review a list of sites,” explained Tim Giese, president of Branches and Banks — a registered non-profit and sub committee of the Cochrane Environmental Action Committee (CEAC).
Self-described as an ‘apolitical organization with a mission to make Cochrane and area a more environmentally aware and active community’, CEAC runs the Cochrane Farmer’s Market, the Branches and Banks planting initiatives and a variety of educational and awareness programming workshops, presentations and campaigns throughout the year — all serving to connect Cochranites with the riparian landscape.
Giese said the wetland site by the dealership has long been marked, as identified by CEAC as a way to restore some ecological function to this riparian area.
The river banks along the east end of town were identified as a newer area in need of some beautification and the school site was a convenient location for students to do their planting.
Between 750-1,000 are to be planted this weekend. Following consultations with the town parks department, the planting sites for 2016 will be chosen.
“CEAC is now the major funder (for this tree planting and watershed clean-up initiative), using funds from running the Cochrane Farmer’s Market,” said Giese.
“It’s one of the ways that CEAC re-invests in our community. One of the main reasons that Branches and Banks has been successful and around for 20 years is because of the tremendous support received from the Town of Cochrane. It is a relationship envied by many other watershed stewardship groups throughout the province.”
