Illustration: Marlena Zuber

New life has been breathed into the neighbourhood's urban forest canopy in recent years by efforts of the Lawrence Park Ratepayer's Association. Every May the group holds an arbor day festival where local residents learn about proper tree care, enjoy each other’s company, and celebrate the wonderful trees that grace their neighbourhood. A new project of the Association is the planting of native trees within the park and ravine with the enthusiastic help of a local Brownies group. Grassroots community-based initiatives to improve the fate of Toronto's trees are taking place throughout the city, with Lawrence Park residents setting a strong example of what is possible.

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Tour stops

1. 1Healthy bodies, healthy minds
2. 2Landscaping the past
3. 3The willows in the dale
4. 4Slow and steady wins the race
5. 5Have park, will travel
6. 6Everywhere’s a Norway
7. 7From fossil to front yard
8. 8Mega Magnolia
9. 9Best in show
10. 10Three generations of maples
11. 11Roots 1, Sidewalk 0
12. 12King of the forest
13. 13The ‘real’ red maple
14. 14Birches beware the borer
15. 15A natural fence

Contributors

Research: Dale Duncan

Writing: Dale Duncan, Todd Irvine