Media Advisory - Come Out and Plant! Join Forests Ontario for Annual Community Planting Weekend on May 2, 2015

Increase our urban forests by planting at one of ten free events in Ontario

TORONTO, April 9, 2015 /CNW/ - Interested in helping "green" your community? Join Forests Ontario and local planting partners on Saturday, May 2 at one of ten free community tree planting events taking place across the province.

Hosted by Forests Ontario and supporting partners, the 7^th annual Community Planting Weekend brings together families, community members and volunteers to take part in a half-day tree planting activity, promoting local engagement and environmental awareness.

Participation offers the chance to contribute to a meaningful project resulting in ecological benefits for not only your local community but for all Ontarians! It is also an opportunity for adults and children alike to learn more about the importance of trees, shade and green urban spaces. Last year, the event drew together more than 1000 volunteers and more than 5,000 trees were planted!

The events are held rain or shine and participants are asked to bring a shovel, water bottle and a lot of energy! Forests Ontario and its partners will supply the rest – the trees, forestry specialists, mulch and refreshments. Appropriate outdoor clothing, sturdy shoes (steel toe if possible), a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent are recommended. Parking and maps will be available at www.forestsontario.ca. 

Special thanks to supporters: CAA South Central Ontario, CAA North & East Ontario, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Enbridge Gas Distribution, and Ontario Wood.

For more information and/or to register to participate in a free tree planting event, please click here. Times and locations are listed below.

Location	Time	Partners	Register
Midhurst Miller Tract 3021 Pinegrove Road Springwater, ON	10 a.m. – noon	- CAA South Central Ontario - TD Friends of the Environment - Ontario Wood - County of Simcoe	Register
Kingston Lemoine Point Conservation Area 1441 Coverdale Dr.  North Entrance Kingston, ON K7M 4M2	9 a.m. – 11 a.m.	- CAA South Central Ontario - TD Friends of the Environment - Ontario Wood - Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority	Register
London Greenway Park 50 Greenside Avenue London, ON N6J 2X5	10 a.m. – noon	- CAA South Central Ontario - TD Friends of the Environment - Ontario Wood -Upper Thames River Conservation Authority	Register
Hamilton Eramosa Karst Conservation Area 78 Upper Mt Albion Rd. Stoney Creek, ON L8J 3X9	10 a.m. – noon	- CAA South Central Ontario - Hamilton Conservation Authority - Ontario Wood	Register
Ottawa Cumberland Museum Trails 2490 Old Montreal Road Cumberland, ON K4C 1G6	10 a.m. – noon	- CAA North & East Ontario - TD Friends of the Environment - Ontario Wood - Rideau Valley Conservation Authority	Register
Windsor Lakeshore Woods Firgrove Drive between Chateau Ave and Banwell Road Windsor, ON	10 a.m. – noon	- CAA South Central Ontario - TD Friends of the Environment - Ontario Wood - City of Windsor - Essex Region Conservation Authority	Register
York Region Mt. Albert Water Treatment Plant 5866 Doane Road Mount Albert, ON L0G 1M0	10 a.m. – noon	- Regional Municipality of York - TD Friends of the Environment - Ontario Wood	Register
Kitchener / Waterloo Snyder's Flats 1497 Snyders Flats Road Bloomingdale, ON N0B 1K0	10 a.m. – noon	- CAA South Central Ontario - TD Friends of the Environment - Ontario Wood - Grand River Conservation Authority	Register
Oshawa Camp X Lakefront West Park 1221 Phillip Murray Ave. Oshawa, ON L1J 6Z9	10 a.m. – noon	- City of Oshawa - Regional Municipality of Durham - Trees for Life - Ontario Wood - Enbridge Gas Distribution	Register
Niagara Niagara Glen Nature Centre 3050 Niagara Parkway Niagara Falls, ON	10 a.m. – noon	- Niagara Parks Commission - Ontario Wood - Enbridge Gas Distribution	Register
Sudbury 2420 South Bay Rd. Sudbury, ON	Saturday, June 6, 2015 10 a.m. – noon	- CAA North & East Ontario - Ontario Wood - Conservation Sudbury	Register

About Forests Ontario
Forests Ontario is committed to the re-greening of Ontario through tree planting efforts on rural lands and in urban areas as well as the renewal and stewardship of Ontario's forests. Forests Ontario and its 85 provincial partners work to protect, renew and manage forest resources through programs, services and education and awareness. To learn more, please visit www.forestsontario.ca or follow us @Forests_Ontario.

SOURCE Forests Ontario

Image with caption: "Join Forests Ontario and its planting partners for the 7th annual Community Planting Weekend, taking place at ten locations across the province, on Saturday May 2, from 10 a.m. to noon. (CNW Group/Forests Ontario)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150409_C5788_PHOTO_EN_14080.jpg

For more information, photos or to arrange an interview please contact: Shelley McKay, Director of Communications & Development, Forests Ontario, e: [email protected], p: 416-646-1193 ext. 232, c: 416-619-0783