Think of it as the perfect way to spend a sunny Tuesday afternoon.
A wide variety of individuals and local organizations came together to help with a tree-planting program spearheaded by two Battleford Lions Clubs.
The Battleford 2000 Lions and the Battleford Historic Lions decided on the tree-planting project after the 2011-12 International Lions president, Wing-Kun Tam, declared Lions organizations around the world should plant one million trees. To date, Lions clubs around the world have planted over nine million.
After deciding on tree planting, the two Lions clubs contacted the Town of Battleford for a suitable location. Battleford Mayor Chris Odishaw suggested the former site of the Battleford dump to help reclaim the site and prevent erosion. The clubs accordingly acquired 1,000 seedlings from SaskPower's Shand Greenhouse.
In four long rows, club members planted green ash, trembling aspen, white birch, acute willow and jack pine. They were assisted in their efforts by Cheryl Dyck's Me to We Club at Battleford Central School and Tom Schwab, manager of the Super 8 Motel donated drinks for the students.
Planting began Tuesday. Once it is finished, the Town of Battleford has agreed to look after watering and caring for the trees.
