Canadian seeks to break world record by planting 24,000 trees in one day

Kenny Chaplin broke the record for most trees planted in one day in 2001, and with the help of his family he’s looking to do it again. Allison Bamford reports.

Buena Vista, Sask. - A veteran tree planter from Saskatchewan is attempting to plant an entire forest in just 24 hours.

Kenny Chaplin, 56, who once held the Guiness World Record for planting the most trees in a single day, is trying to reclaim the title.

This time around, he needs to plant 24,000 trees in 24 hours, which works out to one tree every 3.6 seconds.

“I don’t want to be the rabbit, but I have to find the pace that I can maintain,” Chaplin told CTV News ahead of his world record attempt.

The trees will be planted in a field near Buena Vista, Sask., about 40 kilometres northwest of Regina. Chaplin first set the record in 2001 near Prince Albert, Sask., where he planted 15,170 red pine tree seedlings in 17 hours.

Twenty years later, another competitive tree planter broke Chaplin’s record after planting 23,060 trees in La Crete, Alta., in July 2021.

“I’ve felt it before and I want that feeling back,” Chaplin said. “That feeling (that) you’re in the fire.”

He started his world record attempt June 30 at 8 a.m. He plans to plant all day and night before finishing at 8 a.m. on July 1.

Chaplin has been planting trees for nearly 40 years. In that time, he estimates he has planted upwards of three million trees. He says tree planting can be physically and mentally challenging, and he will be hunched over in a squat the entire time he is planting.

“It’s so intense,” he said.

Chaplin used to work out at the gym, but now he says he just walks every day to get ready for tree planting season. He has been planting full time for the last two months, which has helped him get in shape for his record attempt.

“You’ve never been in physical shape like you are at the end of tree planting season,” he said. “I’m feeling like I’m in my late 20s. That’s what tree planting does for me.”

The average tree planter plants between 2,000 to 5,000 trees per working day.

Lincoln Dobson is a former tree planter. He said it was a big accomplishment for him whenever he planted 3,000 trees in a day.

“(Chaplin) has seen all kinds of land, I’m sure. So, this is not going to be too hard for him,” Dobson said. “He just has to get in a state of mind and see if he’s got the stamina.”

Planting a legacy

Chaplin recently visited the forest that grew from his first record-breaking endeavour. He hopes the trees he plants in Buena Vista will also be around for decades to come, he said.

“This is not about Kenny. This is actually about a forest,” he said. “The sign and the plaque will fade in time and go away. But the trees, they will be here for my daughter’s kids to walk through.”

Dobson, who donated the land for Chaplin to use, says residents already use the field to walk their dogs and enjoy the outdoors.

A new forest could give them the opportunity to develop more paths within the trees.

“It will be an enhancement,” he said. “I always think planting trees is a good idea, so I was not going to get in the way of it.”

A family affair

Chaplin’s older sister, Jean, first introduced him and his twin brother to tree planting when they were teenagers.

Nearly 40 years later, his twin brother Curt is the one helping him in the field as he attempts his second world record.

“As I’m running low on trees in my bags, I can say to my brother get more,” he said.

But Chaplin said one of the biggest influences will come from Jean, who passed away around this time in 2015. The anniversary of her death is one of the reasons he chose to attempt the record this week.

“I just feel that Jean will be on my shoulder,” he said, fighting back tears.

The community has also stepped up to help, according to Chaplin. Sponsors donated the trees, while other locals offered up equipment and fuel to help prep the land.

Dobson said he won’t be disappointed if Chaplin doesn’t break the record. He has already helped the community by just attempting it.

“It would be amazing,” he said. “But I’m not going to be surprised if he ends it at the 18-hour mark.”

“I think he is just letting it all hang out one more time.”