Every year around Earth Day we invite individuals and groups to come out and clean up litter not only in City parks, but also on trails, streets, and green spaces, with our Community Clean-Up Day sponsored by NOVA Chemicals.
New this year, brought to you by the Sarnia Environmental Advisory Committee, we’ll be running a pilot Tree Giveaway, inviting residents to come out and pick up a free, native tree to plant on their property.
Both events take place on Saturday, April 26.
Community Clean Up
Sign up as an individual or group to come out and clean up litter not only in City parks, but also on trails, streets, and green spaces. Have a neighbourhood park you love? Sign up to give it a clean. Is there a particular trail your family enjoys to hike? Select it as your spot to remove litter from the environment.
You can register before April 11 at noon to receive a clean-up kit provided with support from NOVA Chemicals and to enjoy a barbecue hosted by the Rotary Club of Sarnia-Lambton After-Hours at Germain Park. Complete our registration form below to select your clean-up site and participate.
Clean-Up Day details
The Community Clean-Up Day will take place on April 26 from 10 a.m. to noon. Spend the morning removing trash and litter from your chosen site.
Clean-Up Kits
Clean-up kits can include bags, gloves, and first aid kits. They are available as supplies last. If you signed up for a kit during registration, it can be picked up between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Strangway Centre on Friday, April 25.
Trash disposal
You can dispose of the litter you removed in or beside the on-site receptacles at City parks. If you are cleaning a trail, please leave the bags at the trail head for removal.
Post-clean-up barbecue
After the clean-up concludes on April 26, the Rotary Club of Sarnia-Lambton After-Hours will host a barbecue to thank participants at Germain Park at noon.
Please note, the barbecue is open to registered participants only.
Safety information
Ensure all participants are wearing:
- Proper closed-toe footwear
- Appropriate outdoor clothing
- Gloves (provided)
Stay a safe distance from roadways / traffic and wear visible clothing. Please ensure participating children are well supervised. Don’t attempt to clean or lift any items that are too large, unstable, or you are unsure of. If you encounter any items that are unsafe or difficult to move, please leave them in place and contact the City of Sarnia Community Services Division
Do not pick up any sharps such as needles, syringes, blades, broken glass, or other items that could cause a puncture. Participants will be provided with a reporting form so these items can be removed by trained members of the parks team.
Tree Giveaway
Brought to you by the Sarnia Environmental Advisory Committee, our Tree Giveaway is your opportunity to contribute to Sarnia’s urban canopy at no cost.
Several varieties of native trees are available on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. We will be giving away 400 trees starting at 9 a.m. at Germain Park.
Trees must be planted on private property. Do not plant trees on the City boulevard.
The giveaway is open to Sarnia residents only, proof of residency such as ID or recent utility bill required.
Tree Giveaway details
Trees will be distributed starting at 9 a.m. and can be picked up from the southern gate to the forestry yard, to the east of the Strangway Centre and just west of the park’s Japanese Garden. All trees will be about one to two metres when distributed.
Tree benefits
Sarnia’s urban forest gives back significant benefits to the community through the environmental, societal, and economic services that healthy urban trees provide. Just a few examples among these many benefits include:
- Reducing energy use cost and greenhouse gas emissions by shading and cooling
- Promoting healthy and active living by encouraging people to spend time outdoors
- Improving mental health and reducing anxiety
- Protecting water quality and reducing flooding risk by slowing down and absorbing stormwater
- Protecting air quality by filtering out airborne pollutants
Tree care
Once you have your tree, take it home and plant it on your property. Be sure to take care of your new tree so it can grow to its full size.
Follow the steps below to plant and care for your tree.
1. Pick a location
The location you select for your tree is important. Take into consideration the tree species, mature size and proximity to buildings, power lines and other structures the tree could interfere with. Picking the right location is just as important as planting the tree properly. Make sure to plant your tree on private property with permission of the owner, please do not plant trees on City boulevards.
2. Dig your hole
The hole you dig should be two to three times wider than the container. Planting a tree to deep or to shallow can be detrimental to the tree’s health. Always plant your tree so the root collar is level with the soil around it.
3. Plant your tree
If the roots in the container appear to be tightly wrapped or excessively pot bound, gently loosen the roots to reduce the chance of girdling roots. Always plant your tree so the root collar is level with the soil around it. Back fill your hole with the soil you removed. There is no need to add amendments to your soil. Compact the soil in the hole as you plant your tree. Compacting the soil as you fill in the hole will reduce air pockets. Water your tree in immediately after planting to remove the last of the air pockets.
4. Mulch your tree
Mulch should be spread in a donut shape around the tree with a depth of no more than 20 cm. Leave a space between the mulch and the trunk of the tree. Mulch holds moisture in the soil reducing evaporation and provides all the nutrients your tree needs.
5. Water your Tree
In the first couple of years watering your tree is important for your trees survival. A long, deep watering is ideal for your tree in periods of drought or extreme heat. Turn your hose to a trickle and place it at the base of the tree for 10 to 15 minutes, or use a tree watering bag.
Tree species
Please note trees will be given out on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. We have 20 to 25 trees of each species available. All trees are native to southern Ontario. Tree species represent a variety of sizes.
American Beech
Slow growing and shade tolerant. American Beech have edible nuts that are a favorite of many birds and mammals. The wood is commonly used for flooring and furniture making.
Size: Medium, up to 25 metres
Soil: Moist, well-drained soils and bottom lands
American Hornbeam / Blue Beech / Musclewood
Very shade tolerant. Its wood is known to be very hard and strong. Commonly used to make tool handles. Its bark is known for having muscle-like longitudinal ridges.
Size: Very small, up to 8 metres
Soil: Deep moist soils; borders of streams and swamps
Basswood / American Linden
Very shade tolerant. Very commonly used for hand carving and wood turning. Wood is considered very soft. A good source of nectar for bees and native pollinators.
Size: Large, up to 35 metres
Soil: Moist soils
Paper Birch / White Birch
Not Shade tolerant. Well known for its attractive white bark. Very commonly occurring across Canada. Historically used in canoe making.
Size: Small to medium, up to 25 metres
Soil: Wide variety
Black Cherry
Intolerant of Shade. Known for its wood characteristics in furniture making. Black cherry produce’s edible fruit however they are more bitter then the fruit commonly found in grocery stores.
Size: Medium, up to 22 metres
Soil: Wide variety
Hackberry
Moderately shade tolerant. A favorite food source for birds and mammals. The berry like drope, is a pitted stone fruit, which is edible but not considered a desirable fruit.
Size: Small, up to 15 metres
Soil: Variety of soils
Kentucky Coffee Tree
Slow growing and grows best in full sun. Early settlers used the fruit as a substitute for coffee. This practice is not recommended due to the toxic properties of the fruit.
Size: Medium, up to 25 metres
Soil: Deep rich soils
Sugar Maple
Very shade tolerant. Its wood is known to be very hard and strong. It is Canada’s national tree. Its sap is used to make maple syrup.
Size: Medium to large, up to 35 metres
Soil: Deep, fertile, moist soils
Red Maple
Moderately shade tolerant. Red Maples have a high variability and form several varieties. Red Maples can also commonly hybridize with Silver Maples.
Size: Medium, up to 25 metres
Soil: Can survive variety, often prefers swamps and other moist soils
Bur Oak
Drought resistant and moderately shade tolerant. Tolerant of urban conditions. Somewhat fire resistant due to its thick bark.
Size: Small to medium, up to 25 metres
Soil: Deep rich bottomlands, upland limestone soils
White Oak
Moderately shade tolerant
Size: Medium to large, up to 35 metres
Soil: Wide variety of soils
Swamp White Oak
Moderately shade tolerant. Occurs in southern Ontario and uncommon in the rest of Canada.
Size: Small to medium sized tree, up to 22 metres
Soil: Moist bottomlands and at the edges of swamps
American Sycamore
Moderately shade tolerant and fast growing. Known for its showy “camo” bark (mix of green, white and brown).
Size: Large, up to 35 metres
Soil: Rich bottomlands and poorly drained soils
Tulip Tree
Intolerant of shade, fast growing. Best known for its large showy greenish, yellow flowers.
Size: Large, up to 35 metres
Soil: Deep, rich moist soils along streams or swampy areas
Black Walnut
Intolerant of shade. Known and valued for its wood. Black Walnut leeches a toxic substance from its leaves and roots (Juglone) which may inhibit the growth of other broadleaf plants.
Size: Medium to large, up to 30 metres
Soil: Well-drained, fertile lowlands
Serviceberry
Somewhat shade tolerant. Found as forest understory and edge habitats. Known for showy white flowers in the spring, edible fruit in the summer and attractive fall foliage.
Size: Shrubby or very small, up to 10 metres
Soil: Variety of soils
Nannyberry / Sweet Viburnum
Somewhat shade tolerant. Found as forest understory and edge habitats. A flowering shrubby tree often planted as a ornamental.
Size: Shrubby or very small, up to 10 metres
Soil: Variety of soils
Redbud
Shade tolerant. Found as forest understory tree. A flowering tree often planted as an ornamental.
Size: Very small, up to 8 metres
Soil: Variety of soils
Ironwood
Very shade tolerant. The densest Canadian wood often used for tool handles.
Size: Small, up to 12 metres
Soil: Wide variety of soils
Eastern Flowering Dogwood
Moderately shade tolerant. A flowering tree often planted as a ornamental.
Size: Small, up to 10 metres
Soil: Moist, fertile soils