Young people in Bruce County dug in on May 4 to plant 3,000 trees to help protect a local watershed and learn the value of environmental conservation.

Members of 4H groups from across the region joined the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network’s (PRWIN) annual tree planting event.

“Instilling the importance of conservationism with local youth is a directive our group has always focused on. Our 4H Tree Planting Day flagship event highlights both the importance of local conservation and the importance of community work through volunteering. Without the generous support of funding and volunteers through the NWMO, this event would have not taken place this year. Thank you so much for supporting a great annual event that supports youth conservation,” said Penny Faragher Robertson from PRWIN.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is a proud sponsor of this year’s event.

For the past 12 years, PRWIN has secured a 3- to 5-acre site from a local landowner for this annual event. Members of 4H Conservation Clubs from Huron-Kinloss, Walkerton, Tiverton, and Saugeen Shores started their day by learning how to properly plant a tree and the important role trees play in our lives. Then they spent the rest of the day actually planting, before doing even more for the local environment by cleaning out rural ditches in the Huron-Kinloss area in the afternoon.

“As part of our commitment to protecting the environment and being good local partners, we are proud to support organizations like the PRWIN,” said Becky Smith, Regional Communications Manager at the NWMO. “We are happy to be able to help at this event and be part of some of the incredible work that PRWIN does to deliver in-ground projects that improve the habitat and water quality in Lake Huron.”

A key requirement of the NWMO’s Adaptive Phased Management program – Canada’s approach for the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel – is to protect people and the environment.