Cy Hampson park in North Saanich got a little greener this week after Home Hardware Sidney was able to plant a slew of Garry Oak trees thanks to a grant.
The local business, owned by Bob Haney, received the $2,000 grant from Tree Canada after applying for it in the spring.
“The application comes up every year so this year I finally applied for it and we got it,” explained one of the store’s managers, Siobohan Furlong.
“We sent in our application in April and we found out we got the grant in July. It’s great to be able to plant something in our community that will last and add to the green space,” she said.
On Wednesday, Sept. 25, which also happened to be National Tree Day, Home Hardware Sidney managers, North Saanich parks staff, parks board members and Mayor Alice Finall, employees from Bartlett Tree Experts and members of Tree Canada were on hand to help plant the trees in the north east corner of Cy Hampson park.
“We’re really happy to be able to support this initiative,” said Furlong.
Garry Oak meadows host more plant species than any other terrestrial ecosystem in Canada and are often inhabited by rare or endangered species.
“It’s no wonder this initiative was supported by so many people,” said Finall during the planting.
National Tree Day is an initiative that was started in 2011 through a private group and endorsed by Tree Canada.
The day was also locally celebrated by Parkland students who planted trees on Wednesday morning with a little help from Russell Nursey in North Saanich.