Toronto’s Trees
I had intended to look at the last of Toronto’s flurry of plans, the Green Plan, this past week-end, but my days went in a completely different direction, and I never got the chance to read all about it. Still, I did hear that Toronto wants to increase its tree canopy, although as usual they plead poverty as a reason why they can’t.
The best part of flying home to Toronto — OK the only good part about returning home to school or work — was looking out the window at the vast swathes of green across our neighbourhoods. Trees dominated the scene. Their green was such a fresh contrast to other cities, where stone and concrete filled one’s vision as the plane approached. Yet I have a feeling that our canopy has shrunk. That’s what I understand the Mayor to claim as well.
Many of Toronto’s trees were planted at the same time decades ago, which means they’re all achieving maturity, old age, and death at the same time. Noticeable holes in tree-shrouded neighbourhoods are appearing. Suddenly there’s light where there used to be refreshing shade. This is too bad because trees make a difference. On some streets, where majestic trees meet overhead across the road and sidewalks, there’s a noticeable and welcome drop in temperature during the summer. Honey Locusts are known for feasting on pollutants and exhaling oxygen, thereby cleaning up our smoggy air. And as well, one is less apt to get wet in a rainstorm when walking under mature trees.
Toronto used to have a tree program whereby a homeowner could choose one out of a list of trees, and the city would plop it dead centre in your front garden for you, for free. Of course, you may not want it dead centre, and perhaps with some ’suasion or quick retransplanting, you could have it where it best fitted your landscape. Still, it was a neat idea, particularly since the available trees ranged from small ornamentals, suitable for tiny frontages, to grand ones, suitable for those with lots of land out front. Do they still have that program? I haven’t heard about it in a long time, and it’s one of the best ways I would think to regrow our tree canopy. It’s an idea worth saving.
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I don’t know about that program but I do really love the scene you described before that. I love walking down streets where the trees meet like that (and on those ice rain days where the branches are all covered in 1/2 cm think ice they are a beauty)