An initiative by St. Andrew’s United, Lacombe, to plant 100 trees for The United Church of Canada’s Centennial received final approval from Lacombe’s City Council last week.
Called the Woodland Sanctuary, the project involves both the city and congregation turning a 1.7-acre municipal reserve into a natural forest ecosystem.
“Council would like to thank St. Andrew’s United Church for recognizing the importance of our community’s natural environment,” Mayor Grant Creasey said in an interview with the local newspaper.
Inspired by the Alberta Motor Association’s tree planting for its 100th anniversary, St. Andrew’s Green Team saw planting 100 trees as “a practical action to combat the climate crisis,” says retired minister Rev. Cecile Fausak who co-chairs the congregation’s green team with Dianna MacLeod.
“As we researched where and what to plant with the city, the project grew into planting a natural ecosystem rather than beds or rows of non-native trees,” says Cecile. Attached is a project overview written by landscape designer Cynthia Pohl that outlines how their tree and shrub choices are all about being carbon positive. “It’s become a much bigger project than just ‘let’s plant 100 trees!’”
St. Andrew’s children created a ‘tree’ mobile which is the congregation’s fundraising thermometer (in the photo’s background). “We have raised around $20,000 from congregational members and are approaching the community now. We received $2500 from the UC Centennial Fund. We have and are applying for other, more sizable grants. We will need 50 volunteers to plant each day for the four days,” says Cecile.
The budget for the City of Lacombe’s part in the project is estimated to be $36,000 over three years.