Mr. Speaker, to kick off Earth Week, I had the great privilege of taking part in a tree planting event at Brantford's new “Forest in the City” The community has embraced the wonderful idea to develop a new urban forest inside an existing industrial park. The project has become a reality, thanks to the hard work of the Brantford/Brant Tree Coalition and project champion Chuck Beach.
With 37,000 trees planted, 2015 marks year four of a five-year plan, with the project well on its way to surpassing the goal of 50,000 trees planted in five years. The new forest includes walking trails so residents can hike and appreciate the diverse ecosystems that are being created. The project has also been supported generously by the city of Brantford, the Grand River Conservation Authority and local businesses, as well as a grant from CN.
New forest in the city is an idea that is growing into a very special place in beautiful Brantford.