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The GRCA continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in Ontario. The health, safety and well-being of our staff, volunteers and the community remain our highest priority. Please visit our COVID-19 Update page where you will find the most up-to-date information on impacts to GRCA programs and services.
The GRCA's tree planting programs are aimed at farm and rural landowners who have at least one hectare (2.5 acres) of land.
Trees are an important part of our work to restore the natural environment. Trees and forests protect water quality in our rivers and streams. They provide habitat for birds and animals and they add to the health of our communities by purifying the air.
Landowners residing in the Grand River watershed with more than 1 hectare (2.5 acres) of land are eligible to order trees. Tree orders can be reserved from the beginning of October through to the end of March. Tree pick-ups occur every spring starting approximately the third week of April through to the second Wednesday in May (depending on seasonal weather conditions).
Landowners with an interest in a tree planting project and with at least two hectares (five acres) of land may be eligible for a site visit with a GRCA Forestry Specialist. A site visit with a Forestry Specialist includes:
Grants are available through funding programs, such as, the Forests Ontario - 50 Million Tree Program and the Rural Water Quality Program (RWQP). Grant rates vary from county to county and for different types of projects. For more information about the RWQP, visit the Landowner grants page.
GRCA’s tree planting program is geared towards large scale tree planting projects, farm windbreak plantings and riparian buffers. For seedling projects, this means a minimum quantity of 1000 trees, and for tall stock projects (saplings and/or potted stock) a minimum quantity of 50 trees. Landscaping projects or sites requiring a small quantity of trees are not eligible for this program.
If you are interested in scheduling a site visit with a Forestry Specialist, please contact the team by email or call 519-621-2761 to have your name added to the waitlist. Please note: our spring 2021 planting program is now at capacity. Tree planting service requests are now being added to a spring 2022 waitlist.
This page of Landowner resources has fact sheets, videos and other information to help you plan your project and care for your trees.
There are community groups dedicated to promoting tree planting in several parts of the Grand River watershed. The GRCA works with these groups to promote tree planting and hold planting events. You can also check our events calendar for tree planting events.
If you would like to support our tree-planting program, you can donate as little as $30 to the Grand River Conservation Foundation. Go to the Foundation section of our website for details.