Store gives out 1,000 trees to customers
The Glasshouse gave them away and now it’s time to plant them.
As part of an Earth Day initiative, The Glasshouse Nursery & Garden Centre gave away 1,000 large (six to eight feet tall) trees to local residents, helping grow a greener future across Chatham-Kent.
The trees, which included native varieties such as maples and serviceberries, were offered free of charge to members of the store’s Garden Club as part of a community-focused environmental initiative.
Unlike typical giveaways of small seedlings, these were substantial, plant-ready trees designed to make an immediate impact in local landscapes.
“We wanted to encourage people to plant trees in a meaningful way,” said owner Dave Van Raay in a media release. “As someone who has built a life around growing things, I feel a responsibility to give back and help invest in the future. Planting trees is one of the most important things we can do for the next generation.”
The response from the community was overwhelming, Glasshouse officials said, with all 1,000 trees spoken for shortly after the program was announced. The Garden Centre has since been coordinating pickups, with hundreds of residents participating in the initiative.
All trees are spoken for and Glasshouse officials ask that members of the public refrain from calling regarding availability, as all inventory has been allocated.
“This exceeded anything we expected,” Van Raay said. “It shows just how much people care about their environment and their community.”
Along with the free tree, recipients learn of planting techniques to help ensure long-term success for the trees.
