Today is National Tree Day and the Launch of the Rotary Friendship Tree Ornament.
This launch was intended to be in King Edward Park this morning with school children attending, however, due to the rain, we are inside with a smaller gathering.
The ornament is a stylized pine tree created by Hoselton Studios. It will be the first of a series of tree decorations. It comes with some pine seeds with instruction how to plant, and some Rotary info. It will be sold through Rotary contacts with the Rotary Club of Brighton as the distributor. A portion of all sales will go to the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
Jan Hoselton introduced Professor Elwood Pricklethorn, The Professor's day time job is an arborist with Metro Toronto. He is an international Arborist, but a self proclaimed Professor.
Professor Pricklethorn had lots of visual aids for the children in the room. This included dressing up for the part.
The Professor began by explaining how we are hard wired to 'Green'. Then with input from the crowd (us) highlighting the benefits of Trees:
- Shade
- lumber
- paper
- medicinal properties
- Oxygen
- consuming CO2
- Food
- Shelter for animals and insects
- mulch
- roots hold land together and deter erosion
- celulose
- rubber / gum
Trees boost our immune systems. We are healthier around trees and less crime in areas with trees.
Trees consume CO2 and synthesize it with water and minerals to grow and create oxygen. Photosynthesis (mixing light).
three years of maintenance to get established. He also provided a list of things not to do so hurt a tree.
The Professor had us pledge to be good tree stewards. When I Hug a tree, I will not hug a prickly tree.