Royal Botanical Gardens seeks Christmas tree donations

The Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) annual Christmas tree collection has returned. They are in need a maximum of 1,500 trees in order to strategically place them in critical zones. 

RBG asks community members to pre-register their donations ahead of their drop-off to ensure it receives the desired amount for the project. 

For over a decade, RBG says it has relied on the public to deliver their Christmas trees to aid in various stream-restoration projects around aquatic ecosystems. 

Over 175,000 trees have been repurposed and placed into the banks of the Chedoke and Grindstone Creeks since the project began. 

RBG says that once the trees are placed, their branches begin to collect and retain suspended sediment which helps form a riverbank. This has previously demolished invasive Common Carp.

It says as years go by and more trees are donated and added, the riverbanks become fortified and stabilized. This helps channel the flow of water during high-water events. 

RBG says the trees also create a habitat for birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, amphibians and a strong soil bed.

It says people can drop off their Christmas trees between today (Dec. 28) and Jan. 9 at an unstaffed location close to the border of Hamilton and Burlington. RBG says specific drop-off instructions and location details will be provided via email after registration.