Tree planting events deliver greener, healthier communities

Tree planting events deliver greener, healthier communities

Tree Canada, Brennan Home Hardware partner to plant trees in Woodstock
First Nation, Bath, Florenceville-Bristol and Knowlesville

National Tree Day was Wednesday, Sept. 23. Representatives from
Brennan’s Home Hardware and Tree Canada gathered in the orchard of
Woodstock First Nation to commemorate the day. Youth, elders and
community representatives were on hand to plant trees to support the
community in the future.

On Thursday and Friday, the group held tree-planting events at Bath
Community School, Knowlesville Art and Nature School, Sam’s Place and
Yula Gardens in Florenceville-Bristol.

The dealer-owners of Brennan Home Hardware Building Centres in Woodstock
and Florenceville-Bristol celebrated 30 years of partnership between
Tree Canada and Home Hardware by helping to create greener, healthier
communities.

During National Forest Week, the group planted apple, butternut trees,
red maples, oaks and more to enhance community gardens, nature trails
and other local green spaces.

“We are proud that our stores were chosen to be among the 30 Home
Hardware locations across the country to participate in this year’s Home
Grown: 30 Years of Planting at Home campaign,” said Mark Brennan,
Dealer-Owner, Brennan Home Hardware Building Centers in Woodstock and
Florenceville. “This marks an important milestone for Home Hardware and
Tree Canada and celebrates a relationship that is creating a lasting
legacy for present and future generations. It also gives our family a
welcome opportunity to express our appreciation for the tremendous
support local residents have given our businesses in a meaningful and
impactful way.”

National Forest Week activities in the Wolastoq River Valley began with
a tree plant at Woodstock First Nation in support of its efforts to
beautify the community and increase food security through a multi-year
strategy to create several Community Gardens and Food Forests.

Woodstock First Nation Chief Tim Paul expressed his community’s
gratitude for the tree-planting event.

“On behalf of the Woodstock First Nation, I would like to thank Tree
Canada, Brennan Home Hardware and the Brennan family for your donation
of the apple trees to our community,” he said. “This gift of food will
enhance our community garden by providing more food security for our
community. It is also a great teacher for our children to see how Mother
Earth can transform an empty field into lush food trees. A place where
our youth can learn about nature.”

As part of the National Forest Week celebration, national award-winning
author Jennifer McGrath visited with local school children at Woodstock
First Nation, Bath Community School and the Knowlesville Art & Nature
School to give a reading and share how she gets inspiration for her
writing by walking in the woods.

The walks led to the publication of The Snow Knows, winner of one of
Canada’s most prestigious prizes for a children’s picture book.

The community and the schools draw on this natural surrounding as
teaching tools to help students learn how to become young stewards of
the environment.

For example, Bath Community School is developing a community garden and
a forest story path, called the Outdoor Learning Centre, to teach the
children about local flora and fauna, complemented by an outdoor
classroom.

Local author and company founder Ann Brennan joined McGrath, stressing
to the children the importance of connecting with our natural
environment and protecting the planet.

Tree plants were also held in Florenceville-Bristol at Sam’s Place Park
and the Kula Community Garden.

“We would like to thank Brennan Home Hardware and Tree Canada for their
generous donation,” said Dr. Clay Marco, garden creator and donor. “The
Kula Community Garden has been well received by the community, and we
hope it is a source of enjoyment for both locals and visitors to our
area in the years to come.”

This year marked the third year Brennan Home Hardware Building Centre
has participated in a Home Hardware Community Tree Plant.

Last year, the local businesses planted trees at Sanctuary House in
Woodstock, the Muddy Boots Learning Centre and Wetland Park, and
Florenceville and Bristol Elementary schools. They built on the
beautification work that began with the creation of Shamrock Garden, a
riverfront public park, to celebrate the reopening of the
Florenceville-Bristol Home Hardware store after it flooded in 2008.

Since the founding of Tree Canada in 1982, Home Hardware Dealers have
planted over 30,000 trees at schools, community parks, conservation
areas, and spaces that required restoration following wildfires,
tornados and other weather-related events.

“The impact our partnership with Home Hardware has had across so many
Canadian communities is immeasurable. Not only has it been a catalyst to
getting so many kids and community members involved in beautifying their
communities, but it also inspired people and organizations without our
network to get involved,” said Nicole Hurtubise, CEO of Tree Canada.