What better place to celebrate Earth Day than to gather and plant seedlings on the site of the 200 Trees for 200 Years project on the berm in Port Stanley.
Exactly one year ago, the Eco class at Kettle Creek Public School launched the undertaking in honour of Port Stanley’s 200th anniversary.
Because it is adjacent to Little Beach, the naturalized area is to be called Little Forest.
Eco Class teacher Jayna Basson – pictured below at left with former principal Esther Wendel-Caraher – explains the transformation of the berm into a naturalized area.
The seeds of 200 Trees were planted when the Eco class of 2017 did a greening project and envisioned the berm as a native forestland with naturalized pathways to benefit the community.
An early proponent of the project was former Central Elgin Mayor Sally Martyn after an impromptu visit by some of the students to her home in Sparta.
Basson explained the work undertaken on Earth Day to continue the process of establishing an authentic Carolinian area and wetland benefiting species-at-risk and beautifying the community.
The work has extended beyond the berm and onto the grounds of Kettle Creek Public School, pointed out Basson.
Two former students were on hand to assist and check out the progress after they participated in the potting the seedlings one year ago. A fun way to spend the day admitted Clara Lukasik, a Grade 9 student at Parkside Collegiate Institute.
Caedence (Kay-Dense) Baitz (Bates) – also a Parkside Grade 9 student – marvelled at the size and scope of the berm forest one year later.
The plan now, according to Basson, is to expand the planted area with public input as to where that should take place on the berm.
You can learn more and stay up to date with the project at https://www.facebook.com/200Trees200YearsPS
Written by Ian McCallum
