On Saturday, October 18th, 2025, CAFES, the Mechanicsville Community Association and MP Yasir Naqvi are planting 50 new native tree saplings at our Mother's Day Woods site at Tunney's Pasture! We are looking for volunteers to help out - all are welcome, no prior planting experience required. Planting equipment and snacks will be provided.
Date: Saturday, October 18th, 2025
Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa - we are meeting in the field between Goldenrod Driveway and Kitchi Zibi Mikan, on the North end of the Tunney's Pasture area. We will have signs put up to direct where to go.
Parking: There is a paid visitor parking lot at the corner of Parkdale Avenue and Goldenrod Driveway, near the Brooke Claxton Building. Alternatively, there is street parking on Emmerson Avenue, and on other nearby streets in the Mechanicsville neighbourhood.
This project is part of CAFES' annual Tree Initiative to increase tree canopy in Ottawa neighbourhoods that need trees the most. Read all about the Tree Give-Away we organized earlier this year on Mother's Day weekend to encourage kids and families to plant trees on private properties in the city. This planting event on October 18th is planned as a follow-up activity to support Ottawa residents to participate in tree stewardship.
Thank you to TD Friends of the Environment for your generosity in making this project possible. Thank you to MP Yasir Naqvi for your continued annual partnership with CAFES on tree planting in Ottawa. Thank you to MPP Catherine McKenney for your support towards this event.
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On Saturday, October 18th, the Mechanicsville Community Association in partnership with CAFES volunteers planted over 70 new native tree saplings at our Mother's Day Woods site at Tunney's Pasture! It was a glorious fall day. We were thrilled to share this exciting day with over 30 volunteers. Thank you so much for everyone who came out to help increase Ottawa's urban tree canopy!
This event is part of CAFES' annual tree programming to increase tree canopy in Ottawa neighbourhoods that need it most. Read all about the Give-Away we organized earlier this year on Mother's Day to encourage kids and families to plant trees in backyards.
Thank you to TD Friends of the Environment for your generosity in making this event possible. Thank you to MP Yasir Naqvi for your continued annual partnership with CAFES on tree planting in Ottawa, and to MPP Catherine McKenney for your support towards this event. Thank you to the City of Ottawa CEPGP.
Interested in becoming a tree steward? We are still looking for a few volunteers to return to the Tunney's Pasture planting site periodically to help water the new trees in the spring, summer and fall of 2026 using our on-site water tote. These trees will need weekly waterings next year to ensure their health and survival. If interested, please contact Erica at eshardlow@cafesottawa.ca. A huge thank you to those who have signed up so far.
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On Saturday May 10th, the Hintonburg Community Association (HCA) hosted a wonderful spring tree give-away in partnership with CAFES Ottawa and the Hintonburg Community Centre. With one of the lowest canopy cover percentages of Ottawa's urban neighbourhoods, the HCA successfully distributed 80 free tree saplings to residents living directly in the Hintonburg neighbourhood for planting on private property.
The trees given out were entirely native to this region, and came in either 2 gallon pots or bare-root. Planting instructions were given out with each tree to guide recipients on best planting practices. Species included Yellow and Grey Birch, Maple, Pussy Willow, Red and White Oak, Red Osier Dogwood, White Cedar, White Spruce and Pin Cherry.
The HCA is continuing to work with recipients to ensure the trees have the best chance at survival. Please feel free to contact freespringtree@gmail.com is you have any questions, and visit the link here for a great resource on tree care.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this fantastic initiative to grow the neighbourhood's canopy!
CAFES spent a lovely Mother's Day morning giving out 67 trees to local community members for planting on private property, as part of our third annual Mother's Day give-away!
This year our event was hosted in Laroche Park in Mechanicsville, in partnership with the Mechanicsville Community Association. The purpose of this initiative is to increase backyard planting and overall tree canopy by supporting kids and families in gifting a tree to their parent for Mother's Day. Trees are intended to be planted in the urban neighbourhoods of Ottawa to ensure we are increasing tree canopy where it is especially needed.
Planting instructions were provided with each tree, and many community members spoke with us about how to plant, water, prune and care for their new trees. We had a wide variety of native species this year including Silver Maple, Yellow and Paper Birch, Red and White Pine, Spruce, Cedar, Pin Cherry, Butternut, Pussy Willow, and McIntosh Apple.
We were thrilled to have seen such great uptake this year, and were especially pleased that many of the trees went to homes directly in the Mechanicsville neighbourhood. As Mechanicsville is among the neighbourhoods with the lowest canopy cover in the city, trees are needed more than ever.
A huge thank you to the volunteers who helped at our event, and thank you to the tree recipients - coming out with your bikes, scooters, and wagons - for taking initiative to green our city!
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Stay tuned for our community tree planting event in October at Tunney's Pasture! We recently filled our site's water tote and are very excited to return for another great planting event this year. More details to come.
For more information about this tree planting event, please contact Erica at eshardlow@cafesottawa.ca
