Students, businesses and other volunteers are joining forces as part of the Cochrane Environmental Action Committee’s (CEAC) latest effort to plant as many trees as possible in town on May 12 and 13.
The Branches and Banks program is part of CEAC’s ongoing effort to promote environmental stewardship and community spirit in Cochrane through the planting of trees and other environmental enhancement activities.
Their latest tree-planting project will start on Friday, when about 90 school kids and corporate volunteers from Garmin and Chevron will get started.
The following day, more volunteers from around Cochrane are asked to take part to finish up the job at a planting site adjacent to the SLS Centre, along the Bow River.
By the end of Saturday, CEAC is hoping they’ll have planted around 2,500 trees and bushes over the two days.
“We’re looking to plant about 1,800 on Friday, which would leave around 700 for Saturday,” said CEAC president Tim Giese.
This will be the 25th year of this community tree-planting event.
He estimated the organization has invested about $13,000 in the seeding stock for this year’s planting. Spray Lake Sawmills is also donating a number of White spruce seedlings.
As in previous years, there will be some outreach people doing educational talks aimed primarily at kids, showing how nature works and how important trees are to the environment.
Since Branches and Banks’ inception in 1996, over 6,500 volunteers have planted nearly 45,000 trees in Cochrane, most of which are native, drought-hardy species.
CEAC uses the money they make running the Cochrane Farmers’ Market to finance their operations. The tree-planting project is a collaboration between CEAC and the Town of Cochrane.
The Town has assisted with the coordination of the day, grant applications, and will be providing some additional materials.
In 2022, town council declared the first Saturday in June as Cochrane Arbor Day, as requested by Bill Belsey’s Grade 6 class from RancheView school. Mayor Jeff Genung and Mr. Belsey’s class will be participating in the tree-planting this weekend and will commemorate the upcoming date.
As well as enhancing the land by planting trees, Giese said there was also an effort underway to restore and improve the fish habitat in nearby creeks, which drain into the Bow River. Planting has been done along much of the Big Hill Creek, Jumping Pound Creek, Bow River, and Mitford Park.
A representative from the environmental education and outreach group Cows and Fish will be on hand Saturday, showing young children how waterways can be affected by human activity and the importance of stream and shoreline rehabilitation.
Giese said they will try to “net some critters and bring them up and put them in some trays and things, and then the kids can take a look at them. So anybody who wants to bring kids out and learn a little bit about nature, they can do that at the same time.”
Volunteers for Saturday are advised to bring their own shovels, rain gear, good work boots and gloves, in addition to snacks and water.
“So (bring) the usual stuff and heaven forbid it's a crummy day, dress for crummy weather, but I'm sure hoping it's going to be gorgeous,” Giese said.
Rain or shine, he noted the trees need to be in the ground that weekend.
The planting site is adjacent to the SLS Centre, with parking at the dog walking area or in the east end of the SLS Centre parking lot.
Check-in for Saturday volunteers starts at 9 am at the shoreline area west of the Bow River at the east end of Jim Uffelmann Park (north of the Jack Tennant Memorial Bridge).
CEAC is asking volunteers to go to their website to register, as they will need a head count to plan for providing some water and snacks.
To register, go to cochraneenvironment.org and under News and Events, Branches and Banks, there is a link to a registration page.
