Shade Trees at Ridgewood Public School
Did you ever have a favourite tree at school? A shady spot where you could sit with a friend and chat? I didn’t. But when we presented the idea of planting a shade tree to 100 Kids Who Care here in Kawartha Lakes, the response was overwhelming. They loved it! In fact, they awarded us over $300 to plant a single shade tree at a local school. What they didn’t know was that we had some leftover funds from last year. So, in true 100 Who Care spirit, we decided to grow that gift into 25 trees!
For our first official Plant Kawartha tree planting, we reached out to the school board to see if any schools were interested. Brad Neild, a school board representative, told us that Ridgewood Public School in Coboconk was eager to get involved. Since this was our only school, we decided to aim high and plant bigger trees than we’d ever planted before. How hard could it be, right?
Brad sent us a map with suggested planting locations. After a site visit with him, the school’s principal, and the phys-ed teacher, we finalized the plan and set a date. The principal shared that when she was a child, she helped plant trees at her school, and the memory has stayed with her ever since. She was excited to get the students involved and even offered a volunteer with a machine to help dig the holes for the larger trees. The smaller trees, we decided, would be planted by the kids with help from teachers and adult volunteers.
Earlier in the year, we had connected with Fleming College to explore ways to collaborate. They run courses on woodlot management and have a wealth of expertise in tree planting. They agreed to help us source the trees and develop a planting plan. Thanks to their guidance, we ensured that the right native tree was planted in the right spot. Some of them will even be used to eventually provide tree seeds to a tree bank! Fleming also sourced all the necessary materials—trees, stakes, and wiring—from a local nursery. With the order placed, there was no turning back! All we needed was a beautiful October day.
We secured mulch from a local supplier, and a friend with a truck helped transport 12 large bags to our garage. On the day before planting, we met Brad and the delivery truck at the school to unload the trees. They were massive—each one weighing over 200 pounds with the root balls secured in wire baskets, making them easy to maneuver with machinery. With everything in place, we were ready to go. We even sent a picture to Sam from Mini Digs out of Burnt River, who would be helping with the heavy lifting and holes for the larger trees.
The next day, Sam, his wife, and their two adult children arrived bright and early. Sam’s grandchild attended Ridgewood, so this project was special for them. We also had a few volunteers join us, including Laurie from the Kawartha Community Foundation, two managers from Kawartha Credit Union, and a local artist friend. Laurie even brought her husband along—apparently, some people just love planting trees as much as we do!
Brad started using a trolley to move the smaller spruce and pine trees into position. Each tree location was marked with orange grass paint, corresponding to the numbers on the planting plan. By 10:00 a.m., the students were ready to get started. Teachers and volunteers worked on digging holes for the smaller trees, while Sam and his team tackled the larger ones.
With everyone pitching in, we made quick progress. The students helped plant the smaller trees, while the adults applied mulch, and secured tree stakes to the bigger trees. Two hours later, the smaller trees were planted, and the kids headed back inside. The principal returned with a group of older students, who took turns hauling water from the school to each newly planted tree.
By 1:10 p.m., we had finished tying up the last of the larger trees and applying the final layer of mulch. Exhausted but happy, we stood back and admired our work. Twenty-five trees now grace the grounds of Ridgewood Public School, ready to provide shade and memories for generations to come.