London Explores Municipal Tree Nursery to Address Tree Shortages
Tree shortages prompt London to study possibility of operating municipal nursery

Image: Ctv News
London, Ontario, faces challenges in sourcing native trees for its urban forest initiatives. To meet its tree canopy target of 34% by 2065, the city is considering establishing a municipal nursery to reduce costs and ensure a steady supply of trees. A feasibility study is set to be discussed on June 8.
- 01London aims for a 34% tree canopy by 2065, requiring 6,000 trees annually.
- 02The current annual cost to plant these trees is approximately $3.2 million.
- 03Coun. Skylar Franke proposed a municipal nursery to lower tree procurement costs.
- 04A staff report recommends hiring a consultant for a feasibility study on the nursery.
- 05The feasibility study will include comparisons with other municipal nurseries in Ontario.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
London, Ontario, is grappling with tree shortages as it strives to maintain its identity as the Forest City. The city needs to plant at least 6,000 trees annually to achieve its goal of a 34% tree canopy by 2065, with current costs estimated at $3.2 million per year. Coun. Skylar Franke highlighted that demand from municipalities across Ontario is making it difficult to source native species. To address this, a new staff report suggests exploring the establishment of a municipal tree nursery, which could help reduce costs for taxpayers. The proposal includes hiring a consultant to conduct a feasibility study, which will also evaluate existing municipal nurseries in other cities. If approved, the study is expected to yield results by April 2027. Franke noted that while a municipal nursery could eventually meet local demand, it would take 5 to 7 years for the trees to mature enough for planting.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The establishment of a municipal tree nursery could significantly reduce costs and improve the availability of native trees for urban planting.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you support the establishment of a municipal tree nursery in London?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.





