Three Coquitlam creeks will have a little more shade in a few years when 7,500 native trees and shrubs planted this month begin to mature.

One of the creeks, Scott Creek, will be planted today (Wednesday) and tomorrow, and volunteers are needed with this project.

Members of the community are invited to help plant 1,500 trees between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Oct. 28 and 29. The meeting place is a church parking lot at 2950 Dewdney Trunk Rd.

The tree planting project is funded through a $38,000 Provincial Trees for Tomorrow grant and was organized by the city of Coquitlam’s Urban Forestry Department to replace invasive species which have been removed.

Earlier this month, the first two tree plantings were held, drawing in more than 100 volunteers, including many from local businesses.

Volunteer co-ordinator Dana Slocum said representatives from Associated Labels and Ikea were on hand to help with tree planting at Como and Nelson Creeks, and students from BCIT and SFU environmental programs were on hand, too, along with a Buddhist organization and other community volunteers.

Tim Hortons and Starbucks’ Coquitlam Centre and Eagle Ridge locations also provided refreshments while Ikea and Associated Labels will continue to look after the creeks.

Lanny Englund, manager of the city’s Urban Forestry Department, said the tree plantings are part of a strategy to replace invasive species with native trees and shrubs in the hopes that they will flourish and provide habitat for salmon.

Homeowners are also being asked to plant trees in their yards through the city’s Adopt-a-Tree program.

dstrandberg@

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