Long Branch Neighbourhood Association

Programs

Sign-up early for your Free Tree at the Apr 4th LBNA Meeting

We are pleased to announce that the Long Branch Neighbourhood Association’s Tree for Me Grant has been approved!   Tree For Me grants support the City of Toronto’s 40 percent tree canopy cover target by encouraging tree planting and tree care on private property.

Native Tree species, suitable for all yards, will be distributed by the LBNA on May 26th from 10 – 2pm during the Spring Bird Festival at Colonel Samuel Smith Park.

Pre-registration is required.   More details to follow www.lbna.ca

Early registration to choose your free native tree species will take place @ 6:30pm just prior to the April 4th LBNA Meeting.   
We all have a role to play in making Toronto greener.
Let’s get planting Long Branch!

200 Year Old Red Oak our First Heritage Tree

Our first Heritage Tree, Big Red, is located near the cenotaph at Long Branch Avenue and Park Road

The History and Culture Committee of the LBNA is pleased to announce that the Great Northern Red Oak on the corner of Long Branch Ave.and Park Road, adjacent to the 1933 Cenotaph, has now been officially recognized by Forests Ontario as part of their 150 Heritage Tree Collection.

Standing tall and majestic overlooking historic Long Branch Park this Northern Red Oak has witnessed many decades of change from being part of a lush forest in the ideal setting for Toronto’s Muskoka South in 1884; two World Wars; to the incorporation in 1931 of the family friendly Long Branch Village; to the present world of lightning speed technology.  Through all these changes our 1st Heritage Tree has remained nestled in the cherished and envied community of Long Branch Toronto.

Interestingly in the 1818 Canadian timeline when our Oak was  just an acorn hatchling , George Brown one of the Fathers of Confederation and founder of The Globe and Mail was born.

What is a Heritage Tree?

Heritage Trees collect and tell the stories of Ontario’s diverse and unique trees and brings awareness to the social, cultural, historical and ecological value of trees. For a tree to qualify, Heritage Trees have to be associated with a historic person or event, or may be growing on land that is historically significant. Candidate Heritage Trees are also assessed for form, shape, beauty, age, colour, size, rarity, genetic constitution or other distinctive features and/or as a prominent community landmark, however its historical or cultural significance is of most importance.

Next year, in 2019, Long Branch will be recognizing its 135th Birthday so we are happy that ‘Big Red’ will be present for those celebrations and hopefully for decades more to come in the heart of Long Branch.

The official unveiling of the Heritage Tree plaque will be announced soon.  All will be welcome to attend.

Help us nominate more Long Branch Heritage Trees

We are looking for more Long Branch Heritage Tree candidates.   Our neighbourhood has a rich history and many 100 plus year old trees that we would like protected under the Forests Ontario Heritage designation not only for the residents who live here today but for the enjoyment of many generations to follow.

Email a photo, the location of the tree and what you know of it’s story to us at longbranchnato@gmail.com or provide details via Long Branch Heritage Tree Survey and we will review and get the nomination process started for all potential candidates.