Anyone else feeling discouraged by the number of “orange dots of death” that have appeared on our neighbourhood elms over the last few weeks?
Or perhaps you’re feeling extra grateful for the shade that our big leafy trees provide, especially on the hottest days of summer?
We’ve heard from so many of our Glenelm neighbours that you want to do more to preserve our valuable urban forest, but we need your help. If you’ve been looking for a way to get involved in protecting Glenelm’s trees – here is your opportunity!
Tree banding time is fast approaching, and GeNA would like to support a neighbourhood-wide banding effort. Banding helps keep our trees healthy and strong and better able to fight off pests and disease.
Here’s where you come in.
GeNA is looking for folks to take on the role of Tree Banding Block Captains. Block Captains will be responsible for:
- Delivering flyers to each house on your block or designated area (GeNA will provide flyers that you will customize with your name & other info)
- Arranging banding through a local tree banding service (OR) purchasing supplies and creating a team of neighbours to do the banding yourselves
- Collecting payments from your neighbours and paying the banding service
- Recording which households want their boulevard and private trees banded (GeNA will provide you with a tracking sheet for this purpose)
Ideally, Block Captains will either be at home the majority of the time so they can accept payment, or have a mail slot instead of a box to discourage theft. You will also need to be available to oversee the banding on your block.
The bands need to go up by mid-September, so there’s a short turnaround time on this.
If you are interested in learning more or volunteering as a Block Captain for your street (or even one side or section of your block) we invite you to come to a short meeting on Tuesday, August 11th, taking place outdoors at The Big Red Church (127 Cobourg) at 7pm. We will meet in the church yard – please bring a lawn chair so that we can keep safe distance.
If you can’t make it to the meeting but would like more information, or to sign up to serve as a Block Captain, please email glenelmcommunity@gmail.com and let us know.
Please help make our first Glenelm-wide banding effort a success by sharing your time, enthusiasm and good ideas with your fellow neighbours!