Revitalizing the Urban Tree Canopy - Tree Planting Initiative

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The Town is embarking on a large-scale project to plant trees on Town-owned property, including in parks, along streets, and around Town facilities. Over the next two years, over 2,600 trees will be planted.

We’re partnering with Trees for Halton Hills to plant 1,900 of those trees in our parks as part of restoration and naturalization.

Trees provide many social, environmental, health, and economic benefits to residents. Planting more trees will support the Strategic Plan vision of a nature-rich community and help deliver on Plan priorities and objectives. Some of the benefits provided through this project include:

  • Increasing shade and cooling, which can also decrease air conditioning bills
  • Providing habitat for birds and other wildlife
  • Removing air pollution
  • Helping to manage stormwater and reduce flooding
  • Supporting recreational opportunities and mental health
  • Removing and storing carbon, helping to mitigate climate change
  • Enhancing neighbourhood aesthetics with greenery
  • Building community through tree planting events

In 2021, the Town of Halton Hills reported having 32% canopy cover (the area of land that is covered by the canopy/leaves of trees). However, this is not evenly distributed across the Town. Communities across Halton Hills range from 7.2% canopy cover to over 40% cover.

Through this project, one goal is to plant trees where the benefits will be most impactful. To do this, we’ll be looking for areas with low existing canopy cover, particularly where people live, work, and play.

Engaging residents, schools, and businesses to help identify some of these areas is a critical component to achieve this. We want to hear from you!

While many considerations go into selecting tree planting locations, we want to know which streets or neighbourhoods you think could use more trees.


GET INVOLVED

Trees on private property provide many of the same community benefits too! Consider planting a tree around your home or business to maximize these benefits, especially if you see your neighbourhood or street identified on the map below.

The Town has put together some resources around tree planting on our Tree Management webpage. This includes programs to help you obtain your own trees, and resources that help to select a location, pick a species, and guide tree planting & tree care.

For other opportunities to get involved in environmental events and programs, visit the Town Environment – Get Involved webpage, which is updated regularly as new opportunities arise.


SUPPORTING PROJECTS

Interested to learn more? Here are the existing Town Plans and projects that are related to our tree planting initiatives:

The Town is developing a Green Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (GIAMP), which will guide the management of the Town’s green assets, including trees on Town land. This plan will result in more detailed information about the health and condition of trees on Town land and will guide activities such as tree planting and maintenance along streets, in parks, and around Town facilities. Visit the GIAMP Let’s Talk page to learn more.

The Town’s Privately Owned Tree Management Strategy (2021) recognizes that most of the land in Halton Hills is privately owned and the Town supports trees on private property by raising awareness of the importance of trees and providing incentives to plant trees.

The Climate Change Adaptation Plan and Low-Carbon Transition Strategy recognize the roles that trees and forests play in both mitigation and adaptation measures to become more climate resilient.


The Town is embarking on a large-scale project to plant trees on Town-owned property, including in parks, along streets, and around Town facilities. Over the next two years, over 2,600 trees will be planted.

We’re partnering with Trees for Halton Hills to plant 1,900 of those trees in our parks as part of restoration and naturalization.

Trees provide many social, environmental, health, and economic benefits to residents. Planting more trees will support the Strategic Plan vision of a nature-rich community and help deliver on Plan priorities and objectives. Some of the benefits provided through this project include:

  • Increasing shade and cooling, which can also decrease air conditioning bills
  • Providing habitat for birds and other wildlife
  • Removing air pollution
  • Helping to manage stormwater and reduce flooding
  • Supporting recreational opportunities and mental health
  • Removing and storing carbon, helping to mitigate climate change
  • Enhancing neighbourhood aesthetics with greenery
  • Building community through tree planting events

In 2021, the Town of Halton Hills reported having 32% canopy cover (the area of land that is covered by the canopy/leaves of trees). However, this is not evenly distributed across the Town. Communities across Halton Hills range from 7.2% canopy cover to over 40% cover.

Through this project, one goal is to plant trees where the benefits will be most impactful. To do this, we’ll be looking for areas with low existing canopy cover, particularly where people live, work, and play.

Engaging residents, schools, and businesses to help identify some of these areas is a critical component to achieve this. We want to hear from you!

While many considerations go into selecting tree planting locations, we want to know which streets or neighbourhoods you think could use more trees.


GET INVOLVED

Trees on private property provide many of the same community benefits too! Consider planting a tree around your home or business to maximize these benefits, especially if you see your neighbourhood or street identified on the map below.

The Town has put together some resources around tree planting on our Tree Management webpage. This includes programs to help you obtain your own trees, and resources that help to select a location, pick a species, and guide tree planting & tree care.

For other opportunities to get involved in environmental events and programs, visit the Town Environment – Get Involved webpage, which is updated regularly as new opportunities arise.


SUPPORTING PROJECTS

Interested to learn more? Here are the existing Town Plans and projects that are related to our tree planting initiatives:

The Town is developing a Green Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (GIAMP), which will guide the management of the Town’s green assets, including trees on Town land. This plan will result in more detailed information about the health and condition of trees on Town land and will guide activities such as tree planting and maintenance along streets, in parks, and around Town facilities. Visit the GIAMP Let’s Talk page to learn more.

The Town’s Privately Owned Tree Management Strategy (2021) recognizes that most of the land in Halton Hills is privately owned and the Town supports trees on private property by raising awareness of the importance of trees and providing incentives to plant trees.

The Climate Change Adaptation Plan and Low-Carbon Transition Strategy recognize the roles that trees and forests play in both mitigation and adaptation measures to become more climate resilient.