"Striving to promote and improve the health and well-being of our community, economy and environment."

MAKE A DONATION Trees for Woolwich

"Striving to promote and improve the health and well-being of our community, economy and environment."

MAKE A DONATION Trees for Woolwich

 “Between   every two   pines is a   doorway to   a new   world.” 

Trees for Woolwich

Mission Statement (2011)

Our mission is to create a green legacy for Woolwich by working with other community members and organizations:

  • To increase the tree cover in the Township of Woolwich in a manner which enhances the predominantly rural and agricultural nature of our township as well as the settlement areas. Our first milestone is to plant 23,000 trees.
  • To educate residents about the benefits, both to our environment and to human activities, of planting and maintaining trees.

Let us know about trees you have planted.

We'd like to know when and where trees have been planted in Woolwich Township since 2011. Send your info to:  treesforwoolwich@gmail.com

We would love to hear from you.

Share your ideas, your hard work and encouragement for more trees in Woolwich. If you have a question on how to join or help out email us at: treesforwoolwich@gmail.com

Follow us on Facebook page HERE.

Have you seen our video "33,000 Trees and Counting"?  Watch and see how a small community in southern Ontario mobilized volunteers and government to plant trees on trails, roads, creeks and in parks to create a green legacy for the next generations. Starting with only 14% tree cover they aim to get to 30%. Find out why they do it and why it's worth it!

Recent News

In the News: "For his work pushing for and establishing the Elmira Nature Reserve, among other restoration projects in the township, Mark Schwarz has been awarded the Steve Hounsell Greenway Award from Ontario Nature...." Read the full article: "Schwarz lauded for work on nature reserve", by Leah Gerber, Woolwich Observer, June 23, 2023

                                        Our Story

By 1900, forest cover throughout the Grand River watershed had dwindled to just 5%. Intensive reforestation efforts in past decades have improved forest cover over the entire watershed, and it is estimated that Woolwich now has only about 14% forest cover. 30% is considered environmentally ideal, so there is a lot of “growing” to do!


Early in 2011 members of TWEEC (Township of Woolwich Environmental Enhancement Committee) recognized this need to increase the tree planting efforts in Woolwich; a new offshoot organization was formed, aptly named “Trees for Woolwich”, with a goal of planting 23,000 trees — one for each of the township’s residents — and at the same time to get the community as a whole involved in the joys and benefits of tree planting.


Trees for Woolwich will build upon other tree planting efforts in recent years by groups like the Elmira Lions Club and Woolwich Healthy Communities’ Clean Waterways Group. Trees will be planted on both public and private land, and the group encourages people to look for potential planting opportunities on their own property. One of the group’s goals will be to emphasize the importance in constructing natural windbreaks along roads and between fields as a means to limit erosion and soil runoff, and boost crop yields.


Funds to support the Trees for Woolwich program were provided by Waterloo Region, Waterloo Stewardship Network, and the Township of Woolwich.


On October 15, 2011 Trees for Woolwich officially launched their efforts by planting 48 new trees at the recreation centre in Bloomingdale. That afternoon the group planted their “flagship” tree of the project in Elmira’s Gore Park. On October 22 an additional 301 trees were planted at the Floradale Dam. Since 2011, more than 70,000 trees have been planted.


The new Trees for Woolwich goal is to plant 5,000 trees each year.

Get Involved in some of our tree-planting initiatives.

Find a tree-planting date on our events page.

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