(Strathcona Park trees, photo: Judith Gustafsson)
For information on planting trees, see Ecology Ottawa’s Tree Ottawa page.
Sandy Hill residents have formed a Tree Group. Join us! Email sandyhilltreegroup@gmail.com and we will add you to the Group’s distribution list. The group has brain-stormed the following ideas to improve the tree canopy in, and green up, Sandy Hill:
- Plant a community orchard in Strathcona Park next to the Community Gardens just south of Dutchie’s Hole.
- Build on existing work to develop a tree inventory for Sandy Hill and link it to Tree Ottawa’s Open Tree Map.
- Call on the City to:
- Link street de-/repaving and reconstruction to traffic calming and greening, with the support of those residents whose street is being repaved.
- Propose traffic calming bulb outs with perennial-filled beds. Perennials are to be donated by SH residents with composted soil and access to the ground layer by the City.
- Here are two examples: one from Laurier Ave. in Montreal and the other from Booth St. south of Gladstone:
- Apply more strictly its rules around construction and the protection of trees. Protection needs to include the entire root ball of the tree, not just the trunk.
- Plant a diverse variety of native tree species in its streetscaping and park planting initiatives including fruit and nut trees to increase our urban food forest where appropriate.
- Revive the Heritage Tree Program and work for Sandy Hill heritage trees to be protected.