Red Deer community plants 330 trees for wildlife corridor

Community members and volunteers in Red Deer planted 330 trees and shrubs in an open space south of the Kerry Wood Nature Centre. The initiative was organized by the centre with support from the City of Red Deer and the downtown Red Deer TD branch, funded through the TD Tree Days program.

This event marks the second year of a multi-phase project designed to establish a wildlife corridor along 45 Avenue. According to Todd Nivens, executive director of the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society, the goal is habitat rehabilitation rather than simple replanting. By using various species such as willow, poplar, trembling aspen, white spruce, and alder, the project aims to mimic a natural forest.

The corridor is intended to increase biodiversity and provide food and protection for animals using the river as a transit route. The project also seeks to create a safe landing space for wildlife moving from the river into the sanctuary and to slow animals down as they approach the river to prevent dangerous interactions with vehicles.