The emerald ash borer has killed millions of ash trees in two provinces and is close to this area.
Young students here hoped to raise $1,800 but instead reached over $4,500 in a fundraiser to fight the pest and save trees in their school yard.
In an interview on Monday NeighbourWoods spokesman Toni Ellis said she is pleased at the enthusiasm of the students and was amazed at the money they raised. She hopes it will inspire others to help fight the ash borer and save area trees.
“It’s a huge vote of support on the values and the leadership of those grade 2s and 3s showed to lead the charge,” Ellis said.
The imported ash borer will destroy millions of trees, dramatically altering woodlots, forests and urban streetscapes. Unlike the Dutch Elm disaster, there is something people can do; TreeAzin, a derivative of the Neem tree, can be injected into the trunk and protect a tree for two years.
At Elora Public School, where numerous elms have been planted over the past few years, students took action to protect the school’s 30 ash trees. Taking a page from Dr. Seuss’s, The Lorax, students were speaking for the trees by raising money to treat them. On April 20, students ran a school-wide “save our trees” dance-a-thon, and danced for the trees.
NeighbourWoods on the Grand is excited about their project and proud of the students for taking up the cause. While students enrolled in the school are leading the fight, NeighbourWoods is encouraging alumni and their families to help by dropping donations off at the school office. Donors of $20 or more will receive a tax receipt.
She said on May 5 Neighbourwoods is bringing forester Brett Dixon to town to evaluate and treat ash trees. He will demonstrate how they can be treated and he is certified to administer the chemicals that can protect them from the ash borer.
Besides a demonstration, Ellis said Dixon is willing to evaluate trees on private property if requested, and people should contact her to arrange an appointment. Dixon can tell tree owners the cost and the more people that hire him, the lower the price can be.
To learn more about the emerald ash borer and how to protect trees, contact NeighbourWoods on the Grand at 519-846-0841.
