More NeighbourWoods trees available

Due to the overwhelming success of this year’s spring NeighbourWoods program, the City of Kelowna is excited to offer a second, fall program.

“By providing resilient trees at a discount we are encouraging residents to help us increase the city’s urban tree canopy,” says Parks Services Manager Ian Wilson.

“Studies show that increasing our tree cover to 25 per cent will produce pretty significant energy savings and other great benefits. The research also points out that we don’t have much species diversity and that our canopy is only about 13 per cent.”

The City plants between 600 and 1,400 trees every year, but wants to expand that number by involving residents who buy trees and plant them in their neighbourhoods.

This year’s NeighbourWoods program has already resulted in an additional 450 trees being planted by residents.

The goal of the fall program is to have that number reach 1,000 for the year, which means that 550 trees will be available for residents to purchase this time around.

The trees available to residents for 2010 have been handpicked from the City’s suggested trees list.

Final choices include the Autumn Spire Maple, Dropmore Linden, Heritage Oak, Japanese Lilac, Sunburst Locust and Vanderwolf Pine.

Each tree is valued at more than $100, but will be offered to residents for only $30, including taxes.

Interested residents must apply by Monday, September 27.

Applications to the NeighbourWoods program are available under online or can be picked up at City Hall and will be processed on a first-come-first-serve basis.

NeighbourWoods trees will be available for pick up on Thursday, October 7 and Saturday, October 9 in honour of 350.org’s Global Work Party, "A Day to Celebrate Climate Solutions.”