Residents of the Forest City embraced National Tree Day with overwhelming enthusiasm Wednesday morning, flocking to a massive city-sponsored giveaway event that saw thousands of trees distributed to eager gardeners and environmental stewards. The annual giveaway, a cornerstone of London’s commitment to expanding its urban canopy, drew long queues of vehicles eager to collect their share of saplings. The event, held at a dedicated lot on Westminster Drive, transformed the area into a hub of green activity. By mid-morning, cars were lined up for over a kilometer. City staff managed the flow, funneling vehicles into four lanes where they were greeted with a selection of over a dozen tree species. Each car was permitted up to two free trees, with more than 2,000 saplings made available. This year’s giveaway carries particular significance with London named the 2026 Forest Capital of Canada by the Canadian Institute of Forestry. “It helps with climate resiliency and urban habitat for wildlife and shade, carbon sequestration and all those good things,” explained Jaclyn Ellah, forestry supervisor, highlighting the multifaceted benefits of the initiative. Shawna Chambers, director of climate change, environment & waste management, echoed the sentiment. “We are excited to once again celebrate National Tree Day with a tree giveaway for Londoners,” Chambers stated. “Each year, we give out more than 5,000 trees to Londoners – and our crews plant about 5,000 across the city. This helps us grow, maintain and protect our thriving urban forest.” The city’s ambitious Urban Forest Strategy aims to achieve 34 per cent tree canopy cover by 2065, a goal London is reportedly on track to meet. With over seven million trees currently in the city, including approximately 1.8 million owned and maintained by the municipality, initiatives like the giveaway are crucial for continued growth. Residents had their pick from a diverse range of species, including popular choices like Sugar Maple, Red Maple, Tulip Tree, and White Pine, alongside fruit-bearing options such as Honeycrisp Apple, Bartlett Pear, and Romeo & Juliet Cherry. City officials reminded residents that newly planted trees require protection and care during their first year. As an added bonus, each car participating in the giveaway also received a free bag of Green Bin compost, further supporting residents’ gardening efforts.
