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Program Overview
The Municipality of Brighton has initiated an Adopt-a-Tree Program to increase our tree canopy and develop a proper streetscape within our urban and rural communities. The Municipality of Brighton recognizes the importance of the natural environment, and the goal of this program is to support and increase the diversity of the tree canopy within the community and to replace all trees that have been removed during roadside tree trimming, cutting, and removal programs. The Adopt-a-Tree program is intended to encourage land stewardship and improve survival rates for newly planted trees by utilizing a collaborative approach between the Municipality and Volunteer Tree Care Supporters in our community.
Tree Care Supporter Responsibility
A primary goal of this collaborative approach to tree planting is to increase local stewardship in trees planted in the community. Tree Care Supporters can be residents or community groups who are willing to grow and maintain their community’s urban forest. This program hopes to connect Tree Care Supporters with newly planted trees and will require the “adopter” to provide the required care and maintenance for the trees within their communities. Tree Care Supporters will be responsible for required maintenance include watering, mulching, and weeding of trees designated for their care until the trees are well established.
Benefits of Street Trees
- Increase forest canopy
- Improve air quality
- Beautify our community
- Reduce urban heat island effect
- Provide a sense of place
- Increase property values
- Improve mental and physical health
- Provide wildlife habitat and food source
- Provide shade and windbreak
Proposed Small Variety Street Trees
Recommended for smaller lots, cul-de-sacs, or where utility servicing limits available space
- Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry – Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’
- Robin Hill Serviceberry – Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Robin Hill’
- Princeton Sentry Maidenhair – Ginkgo biloba ‘Princeton Sentry’
- Japanese Tree Lilac – Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’ std.
- Jack Ornamental Pear – Pyrus calleryana ‘Jaczam’
Proposed Large Variety Street Trees
Recommended for larger lots
- Sugar Maple – Acer saccharum
- Silver Maple – Acer saccharinum
- Celebration Maple – Acer freemanii ‘Celzam’
- Red Oak – Quercus rubra
- Pyramidal European Hornbeam – Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’
- Common Hackberry – Celtis occidentalis
- Greenspire Little Leaf Linden – Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’
- American Linden – Tilia americana
- Skyline Honeylocust – Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Skyline’
- Shademaster Honeylocust – Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Shademaster’
- White Pine – Pinus strobus (Rural lots only)
- White Spruce – Picea glauca (Rural lots only)
Tree Planting Request
The Municipal staff will plant trees along the road frontages, or other suitable public spaces, to increase the urban and rural tree canopy within our communities. Suitable locations for trees will be at the Municipality’s discretion. Staff will look at each request and work with Volunteers to determine the most suitable planting location and species. Unfortunately, the Municipality cannot guarantee that a tree will be planted on the requested property or that the preferred species can be planted due to the following constraints:
- Tree availability
- Species of tree most suitable for the proposed location
- Available planting space
- Soil quality
- Overhead and underground services
- Lateral service connections (Water, Wastewater, Storm)
- Budget constraints
Please note:
- Tree planting will be at no charge to the property owner.
- Tree Care Supporters are responsible to provide the care and maintenance necessary to improve the survival of adopted trees.
- The Municipality will only provide one tree per lot. Corner lots may request an additional tree for the extra frontage.
- Final locations and species of trees will be subject to the Municipality’s discretion