By Toni Johnston
The Illecillewaet Greenbelt Society planted the first 60 of 200 trees purchased with monies from the Columbia Basin Trust.
As well, the society has been granted funds to plant willows along the banks of the Illecillewaet River. Funding is also provided for purchasing and planting native shrubs for wild life forage and seeding for wild flowers.
The trees are all evergreens and will be planted in the old roadbed areas of the Greenbelt. Environment specialists from the Columbia Basin Trust are advising the Society. Nine members of the society turned out on Sunday, September 19, to begin the plant.
Revelstoke Equipment Rental was contracted to dig 200 holes. The members cleaned 60 holes, filled them with topsoil, planted, fertilized, watered and mulched each tree. A forestry crew brought in big hoses and set up pumps in the Illecillewaet River. A network of smaller hoses allowed volunteers to thoroughly water each tree.
The remainder of the trees will be planted this fall on Sunday, October 17. Society members and interested volunteers from the general public are encouraged to help out.
You can meet at the Downie Street Entrance at 10 a.m. Follow the red flagging tape to our planting site. If you can help, bring a wheelbarrow and shovel or just yourself. Volunteers will also be doing trail clean up.
Here are a few photos of the last work party:
