Tree planting project reaches goal of 300

Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore Lions Club partnered with Eagle Lake Nurseries Garden Centre and Communities in Bloom to bring a new tree initiative to the area a few months ago. 

“One of our main goals has been over the years is to plant trees within the community and we have done a number of different initiatives to try to accomplish that,” said Robert Breitwieser, Strathmore Communities in Bloom chairman.

“So when I had an opportunity to talk with the Lions Club and they suggested they (Lions International) wanted to plant a million trees throughout the world. They said, in Strathmore (they) would like to do a program too.

“Communities in Bloom are thrilled to be able to work together in partnership with the Lions club to promote a worthy effort, planting trees.”

In Strathmore the goal was to see 300 new trees planted between May 1 and June 30. Eagle Lake Nurseries offered trees at 50 per cent off for people who had brought in the coupon found in the local papers. 

Lorinda Weissig saw the coupon and was eager to participate in the initiative.  

“I knew of a part of the house where we really needed a tree and I went down and hunted for what I wanted and found it and got it for a really good price,” said Weissig, who lives in Hillview.

“I think that (it was) great just for the fact that we’re a prairie community and we just by nature don’t have a lot of trees in our community. It’s nice to make them more affordable and then more of us are likely to put it in, and it just adds to the coziness of our community.”

The initiative in Strathmore was part of a larger project. Currently Lions International is participating in the Million Tree Planting Campaign. Strathmore’s aid in the project brought them 300 trees closer to their goal.