Spruce up the holidays: Join the Nature Conservancy of Canada for a festive tree harvest event near Red Deer
Get into the holiday spirit while supporting conservation by participating in a unique tree harvesting event.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) invites volunteers to join in harvesting non-native Colorado blue spruce trees from its Haynes property, located near Pine Lake east of Red Deer, on December 9.
NCC’s "Spruce Up the Holidays" event aims to re-naturalize a former tree lot on the property. Volunteers will actively contribute to this effort by identifying, tagging, safely cutting down and wrapping a select number of non-native blue spruce trees. Removing these trees is an essential step toward the ecological restoration of this site.
This hands-on experience provides participants with the unique opportunity to not only support conservation but also take home their own Christmas tree at the end of the day.
As part of its ongoing commitment to conservation, NCC has been actively working in the Red Deer River area for over a decade. To date, this work has resulted in the conservation of over 5,000 hectares. This area is a priority for conservation thanks to its exceptional concentration of intact parkland in central Alberta.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment and take home a beautiful Christmas tree to make your holidays even more special.
Event details:
Date: December 9, 2023
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: NCC Hayes property, near Pine Lake.
What to bring: Participants are encouraged to bring a backpack or day pack, water bottle, warm layers of clothing, closed-toe sturdy walking shoes, sunglasses and lunch.
Please note that while the blue spruce trees are available for pickup by donation, participants are responsible for transporting their selected tree. Harvested trees will also be available at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre in Red Deer from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 9.
Quotes
"It might sound strange that a conservation organization is planning to cut down trees, but this event will help our ecological restoration efforts to encourage native forest regeneration at this property. The trees in question are non-native blue spruce that were planted so densely they block out native white spruce from growing. By participating in this event, volunteers can bring home a beautiful tree for the holidays while helping nature." – Jessica Hayes, Natural Area Manager, Nature Conservancy of Canada
About
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the country’s unifying force for nature. NCC seeks solutions to the twin crises of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale, permanent land conservation. As a trusted partner, NCC works with people, communities, businesses and government to protect and care for our country’s most important natural areas. Since 1962, NCC has brought Canadians together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares. To learn more, visit natureconservancy.ca.
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