Fields of Uxbridge

The Beginning

Little Forests Durham is excited to be partnering with the Rotary Club of Uxbridge and The Township of Uxbridge to announce the development of a Little Forest at the Fields of Uxbridge.

Two Little Forests will be planted at the Fields of Uxbridge in two separate phases over two years. Site preparation for the first phase will begin on July 6th, 2024. To create the mini-forest, the site will be prepared by laying down cardboard, spreading compost and mulch, and allowing these materials to settle over the next few months. The tree planting will take place this fall. The second phase will begin with site preparation in the Spring of 2025 and planting in the Fall of 2025.

This project is financially supported by Green Communities Canada (in partnership with the Greenbelt Foundation) and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.

Planting - Phase 1

The first Little Forest in Durham Region has been planted at the Fields of Uxbridge on Saturday, November 2, 2024. With the help of over 80 pre-registered volunteers, 600 native trees and shrubs comprising 22 species, the 200 square meter area was planted in just two hours.

In preparation for the planting, volunteers laid out a grid of twine to define 1x1 meter sections across the site. The plants were organized and tagged by canopy level (canopy, tree, understory tree, shrub), ensuring that each species was uniformly represented yet randomized across the site. Each square metre received three plants.

Volunteers used shovels to pull aside the mulch and dig planting holes twice as wide and as deep as the root ball of each plant. The roots of each plant were inspected, loosened and dipped in a compost tea mixture before placing the plant in the hole, backfilling with soil and replacing the mulch. The entire site is surrounded by 6-foot-tall fencing to protect against animal herbivory.

In the Spring of 2025, volunteers will return to maintain the Little Forest with mulching and weeding efforts. Plans are already underway for a second Little Forest to be planted adjacent to the current site, further enhancing the area’s biodiversity.

This project was a collaboration between the Rotary Club of Uxbridge and the Township of Uxbridge and was made possible through the generous support of Green Communities Canada, the Greenbelt Foundation, and Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.

Photos: Nick Kuhne