Stratford and area residents interested in improving the natural environment on a budget will once again have the opportunity to purchase one of eight different species of native-hardwood trees at an affordable price through the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority and its local partners’ third-annual Tree Power program.
By the time local residents pick up their trees at the Stratford Dog Park on April 1 and plant them on their properties, the conservation authority, Stratford’s energy and environment advisory committee and Festival Hydro will have seen a total of more than 900 new trees planted on local private property in the three years since their Tree Power program was first brought to Stratford.
“They’re all native species so they’re creating habitat while adding to the diversity of the region,” said conservation authority forestry and restoration supervisor Robert Davies.
As has been the case over the past two years, local property owners are able to order one potted tree of their choosing at a cost of $25 once the online-ordering system goes live at 10 am March 7. With more than 300 trees available, landowners can choose from eight native-hardwood species: autumn fantasy maple, red oak, hackberry, basswood, black cherry, paper birch, or tulip.
“All are native species and each one provides its own habit and has its own distinct look,” Davies said. “The tulip tree is probably the most exciting one on the list, being a native Carolinian species that produces some nice, big-cup, tulip-like flowers on it.”
While each of the trees are suitable for the soils in the region, Davies said landowners can check out the trees’ descriptions on the website, www.festivalhydrotreepower.cabefore placing their order so they can determine which tree might have the best chance to take root on their particular property.
“If they’re on really sandy soils or it’s a wetter spot, it might help them narrow down which tree they decide on,” Davies said.
Davies and conservation-authority staff will also be on hand at the dog park April 1 when landowners pick up their trees to offer helpful advice about how to plant and care for their trees, and the Upper Thames Conservation Authority website also offers useful information for planting potted trees.
“It’s just an excellent opportunity to enhance the local biodiversity and work together with your family to become stewards of a tree,” Davies said.