Pelham is situated in the Carolinian life zone, the most biodiverse and threatened ecoregion in Canada. This unique location is home to a wide variety of native plants that don’t grow elsewhere in Ontario.
One such tree that is only found growing wild in this zone is the Cherry birch (Betula lenta), which the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has designated as a species at risk. The Pelham Garden Club, along with support from members of the community and the Ontario Horticultural Association, approached the Town to work to coordinate and plant Cherry birch trees.
This spring, Town staff worked with the Garden Club to secure ten Cherry birch trees from Earthgen Tree Nursery, a local grower that specializes in native and endangered species. The trees were successfully planted in the parkette across from the Meridian Community Centre and in the nearby stormwater management pond and celebrated at a ribbon cutting on June 24.
“With the installation of benches and soon-to-be-installed signage about the Cherry birch tree,” said Mayor Marvin Junkin, “this location will continue to be a great example of how Pelham works together to create a community that promotes an exceptional quality of life and values its people, their experiences and the environment.”
Cherry birch is a medium-sized tree which can grow up to 25 m tall and 95 cm in diameter. The tree has simple alternate leaves with toothed edges and dark smooth bark. Cherry birch grows best on moist, well-drained soils but is also found on coarse-textured or rocky shallow soils, and the species is considered a long-lived woody perennial attaining an age of 200 years or more.
