Birth Forest encourages urban forestry growth

Times Reporter    

 

For five years the Birth Forest has provided a way to give the gift of life and teach the value of nature to our children. The Birth Forest has been built on a partnership between Communities in Bloom, the Town of Strathmore, Eagle Lake Nurseries and Chinook Credit Union. A tree is planted for each newborn registered into the free program.

“It’s part of the Tree Canada program, it’s designed to encourage urban forestry with the idea, of course, that forests are good for our environment, good for our living, improve our communities, and improve our urban dwellings,” said Rob Pirie with Communities in Bloom (CIB) 

For Paul and Joelle Sonsteby, as soon as they heard about the program – while pregnant with their first child – they knew it was something they wanted to be involved in.  One of the main reasons is the sense of permanency that comes with planting a tree in your child’s name, knowing it will be there for generations to come.

“One of the things that I think is cool about it is you’re teaching kids to appreciate nurturing the environment and life and growth. If at four and two-years-old they can see the significance of something as majestic as a living tree, I’m hoping that will be something that sticks with them when they become adults,” said Paul Sonsteby.

The Birth Forest in Strathmore is at the Parklane Park, a place where families can see the trees often. The Sonstebys visit the Birth Forest with the kids when they are playing soccer. There are two trees planted for the Sonsteby children, one each for four-year-old Fynn and two-year-old Coen. 

Another neat thing about the Birth Forest said Sonsteby is that there is not a specific tree designated to each kid, so his family will go through and decide which ones they think were planted for them.

Anita Heuver, owner/manager of Eagle Lake Nurseries, has been involved since the inception of the program.  

“We thought it was a great idea, a great way to enhance the landscape as well as recognize the new births and just to do something for our local community,” said Heuver. 

“To see it growing over the years from the first ones that we did, it’s looking beautiful out there. It’s neat for the families, but it’s also a benefit for the town and the communities that live by there, if people haven’t driven by there it definitely is starting to look like a forest.” 

Chinook Credit Union has committed to 10 years of support for the initiative, and is pleased to be a part of a project that beautifies the town and connects the community, said Branch Manager Larry Betts.

“It provides a visible consistent connection to the community and the area of town that the Birth Forest is in. It also provides opportunity for people in the community to connect with the town by registering their newborn children, participating in the planting and watching their trees grow,” said Betts.

“I think it’s a great thing that the Credit Union and Communities in Bloom have done because they’re increasing the amount of trees and greenery that’s being added to our town,” said Councillor Pat Fule.  “Basically I ran on the idea that we need more parks and playgrounds and trees and pathways so having them aid in that is a great deal for the town because whatever it takes to add more greenery and trees is perfect and they’re doing an awesome job.”

Pirie believes they will be able to plant one, maybe two, more years of births at the current location before a new location will need to be determined by the town.  This year’s tree planting is scheduled to take place on June 1 at 10 a.m. Parents are encouraged to quickly register their births from 2012 before May 25.