Volunteers transform Montreal-area field near highway into small urban forest

Volunteers from Trees for Life transform a plot of land into an urban forest in the city of Montreal.

A Montreal-area field was transformed into a small forest this week as 35 volunteers planted 350 trees, with more to come.

Just off the Metropolitain Expressway (A-40), a flat green space behind André-Grasset College was transformed by volunteers from AWS like Rejean Bourgault.

“We’re here today. We’re planting trees. We believe they will be here for over 100 years,” he said.

A diverse selection of 350 saplings is being rooted here by Trees for Life, a national tree-planting charity that has been nurturing urban biodiversity for a decade.

“It reduces air temperature, collects stormwater, takes pollutants out of the air, really just makes our communities more, more livable,” said Josh McIntyre.

Trees for Life partners with local non-profits like Soverdi, which has been growing Montreal’s urban forest canopy one project at a time.

Malika Fortier Barbeau said responsible planting means projects like the one along the highway will flourish - not fade.

They will be out again in November in Longueuil to plant 50 new trees as a tribute to health-care workers.

“It’s been a great, great morning planting some trees for a place where we all live, work and raise our families,” said Kim Gradek.