Birth forest celebrates another year of growth

By Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter

Strathmore Communities in Bloom (CIB) is growing the number of trees in the Town of Strathmore along with celebrating the birth of children by further expanding their birth forest.
The program, which has seen the addition of 45 new trees and shrubs every year since 2008, was started to increase the number of trees planted in Strathmore.
The first location along Green Meadows Drive was completed in 2016 while the second location of the project started the following year – it includes a series of fruit trees and shrubs along Centennial Drive. Different fruit-bearing varieties include apples, pears, plums, cherries, haskap, blueberries and currants.
“All the fruit trees and shrubs we plant are hardy to our area and so we are demonstrating to the residents of Strathmore what can be planted,” said Rob Pirie with CIB, adding that they hope the planting of trees also encourages residents to plant more trees of their own.
Along with bringing up the tree population in Strathmore, the birth forest also celebrates the rising population of Strathmore by commemorating new babies in town. In this free program, parents can register the new birth of their child as a method of celebration. Once registered, they will receive a certificate commemorating the birth of their child and the birth forest.
“The birth forest is a legacy to the future of Strathmore – remember the quote: ‘He who plants a tree plants a hope,’” said Pirie quoting Lucy Larcom.
Although registration forms are accepted all year long, Pirie hopes parents register their children before the tree planting takes place so they can also help with the plant and take a picture with their newborns and a tree. All trees planted will be accessible for everyone to enjoy. The trees are planted to honour and recognize all new births and are not assigned to individual applicants.
“Along with celebrating the birth of Strathmore children, these trees will help increase the tree inventory in the Town of Strathmore. This, in turn, will help remove pollutants from the air and beautify the town for decades to come. One acre of trees will store 2.6 tons of carbon every year and produce enough oxygen for 18 people every day,” boasts the birth forest information guide and registration form.
Birth forest registration forms can be picked up at Chinook Financial and at the Town of Strathmore office. An online registration option is currently in the works. This year’s phase of the birth forest planting will include the planting of grapes, and will take place on June 1 starting at 10 a.m. on Centennial Drive between Thomas Drive and Centre Street.
Anyone wishing to help plant the trees can show up to do so. Those with newborns may also want to take their pictures with the trees. For more information you can send them an email (cibstrathmore@gmail.com).