Wellington North, Ont. - At today's annual Warden's Tree Planting event in Wellington North, the County of Wellington celebrated 20 years of success for the Green Legacy Programme.
Over the past two decades, the Green Legacy Programme has transformed from a simple idea to plant 150,000 trees for Wellington County’s 150th anniversary into the largest municipal tree planting programme in North America, with over 3 million trees planted. The programme has received a number of awards over the last twenty years, including being recognized by the United Nations under the Billion Tree Campaign in 2010.
At today’s annual Warden’s Tree Planting event, approximately 100 employees from the County of Wellington and the Township of Wellington North, including Warden Andy Lennox and members of County Council, were in attendance. Over 900 trees were planted along the river at the designated site in Arthur, creating a riparian zone that will help with flooding and erosion.
“From its humble beginnings in 2004, the Green Legacy has grown into a vital part of Wellington County’s environmental efforts,” said Warden Andy Lennox. “Celebrating 20 years is a testament to our collective commitment to sustainability and the ongoing benefits of tree planting. It is inspiring to see our employees come together each year to make a lasting impact on our environment.”
Rob Johnson, Green Legacy Programme Manager, emphasized the importance of the Warden’s Tree planting event, saying, “This annual event is not only about planting trees; it is about fostering teamwork among our staff and engaging our employees in meaningful environmental stewardship. Each tree we plant today is contributing to a healthier environment for our future generations from a variety of perspectives.”
The Warden’s Tree Planting events have been hosted since 2006. Over the years staff have planted over 20,000 trees at various sites across the County, including conservation areas, farms, trails, township offices, parks, storm water ponds, and more.
In addition to the Warden’s Tree Planting event, Green Legacy staff were also excited to share that Municipal Tree Orders for 2025 officially opened on October 1. Wellington County residents are invited to submit and learn more at Green Legacy - Order Trees.
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Media Contact:
Rob Johnson
Green Legacy Programme Manager
T 519.830.7306
Email robj@wellington.ca