We are a community-led action group for respectful development and urban tree preservation and protection. Helping trees survive and thrive is our mission.
If you care about trees and urban forests in your community, let us know
Click here to learn more about the Community Trees Matter Network
The Community Trees Matter Network came together out of a desire to bring more voices together in support for our urban trees and forests and to find out what resources and information we can share.
Thanks to a Greater Victoria Acting Together listening campaign hosted by the Sierra Club late this past summer, a number of us were introduced to share our interest and passion for trees. What we found was that each of us has some knowledge about trees, municipal planning processes and a desire to protect, preserve and see the planting of more trees. To avoid duplication of efforts, we have started the Community Trees Matter Network.
We have grown into a volunteer, citizen-led coalition of people who value urban trees and want to work with regional municipal authorities to ensure more is done to protect, preserve, and plant and maintain trees to ensure they survive and thrive.
In collaboration with the Creatively United for the Planet non-profit society, we host our information within the CreativelyUnited.org website. This community social sharing network allows individuals and organizations wanting to connect, share, and collaborate to post, free-of-charge, information, upcoming events, notices, stories and photos.
Our hope is that through our combined efforts we can help support projects that involve trees. We have found councils and mayors very responsive. A number of us have presented to Victoria City Council, Saanich Council and Esquimalt Council.
Victories include: Victoria council and mayor agreeing to explore other site options for the Crystal Pool project that don’t involve cutting established trees and destroying adjacent park space, plus forward movement on implementation of the 2013 Urban Forest Management Plan and tree preservation bylaw updates; support for saving mature trees on Grange Road in Saanich; and Haro Woods finally receiving more protection.
We have had interviews on the CBC, CHEK TV, plus many letters published by the Victoria News and the Times-Colonist. Creatively United has been sharing our information to their mailing list of 5,000+ people, providing updates to the website, and sharing on social media. If you are on Facebook, please follow both CreativelyUnited and TreesMatterNetwork.
Please feel free to send us your information and updates to post here. Together, anything is possible! Let’s leverage the power of our combined networks so that we can help each other.
New City of Victoria Urban Forest Manager, Brooke Stark
The City of Victoria has finally filled the newly funded position of Urban Forest Manager. We look forward to working with Brooke Stark, former manager of Parks Operations, in her new role. She will now be responsible for long-term planning, the city’s natural area...
Save Craigflower Creek
The BC government wants to turn an existing park into a bus depot, despite the presence of a salmon spawning creek and many trees. The details are on the website: https://www.savecraigflowercreek.org and we have a petition started here:...
Public Hearing Results
Last night was the result of public action, in a way Langford hasn’t seen before. We saw consistent, smart pressure applied by citizens to Council and to the developer – and it worked.
How To Plant Trees If You Don’t Own Land
Fall is a great time to start trees from seeds or nuts. Plant them in pots you can keep in a cool place indoors. (Research the type of trees you want to start on the internet first – the methods are different for many species.
The Urban Forest Master Plan
Interested in knowing more about trees and how best to protect and preserve them? The City of Victoria Urban Forest Master Plan (2013) is a wonderful document brimming with useful and relevant information about trees. It is not only a fascinating read, but an easy...
Birds Need Trees
When I first moved to James Bay, I often awoke to the sound of robins warbling in the trees, the chatter of sparrows and the sight of swallows elegantly swooping in between buildings. Sadly, this is no more. There is a strange silence in my neighbourhood. The reason?...
City of Victoria Strengthens Tree Protection Bylaws
Thank you to everyone who wrote emails and letters, and spoke to council on behalf on Victoria’s trees — we were successful! Mayor and council have just approved a significantly stronger tree protection bylaw.
Experts Talk on Adapting to Climate Change
Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culture, the Community Association of Oak Bay and Friends of Uplands Park invite you to an Experts Talk on Adapting to Climate Change on December 2nd at 7 pm at the Monterey Community Centre, 1442 Monterey Ave, Victoria. Dr. Richard...
Key Federal, Provincial & Municipal Government Contacts
Writing a letter to voice your opinion is not only therapeutic but can make a difference. The more of us who do it, the more likely some action will come of it. Here we have conveniently compiled a list of emails for city councilors and mayors for most municipalities,...
Esquimalt Park To Receive 450 New Trees & Shrubs
These native plants will add to the biodiversity in the park, as well as increase tree coverage in the region. There will be 23 species planted in total, including Garry oaks, Douglas fir…
Best Video of 2019
This is by far the best video I've ever seen on addressing climate change at home. Short, sweet, to the point and solutions based. Yes, we can do this. One small action by each of us amounts to a whole lot. Thank you Greta Thunberg! For 58...
Council Protects Urban Forest
Council has adopted amendments to the Tree Preservation Bylaw aimed at protecting the urban forest, while the City focuses on planting more trees. As part of the City’s Urban Forest Master Plan, the City is reviewing and renewing our Tree Preservation Bylaw to ensure...
For Love of The Forest – Yellow Point Ecological Society
The Yellow Point Ecological Society (YES) created this short video, narrated by Guy Dauncey, highlighting ways we can protect the forest. For more details, please visit the YES website.
Tree Appreciation Day
Come celebrate Tree Appreciation Day on Sunday, November 3rd! Beacon Hill Park - Cameron Bandshell 10 am – 1 pm No cost for attendees. Tree tours Ceremonial Tree Planting Children’s art station “Match the Leaves with the Seeds” activity Ask an Arborist station Tree...
New Forest Management Policy
Great news! North Cowichan Councillor Rob Douglas, has just let us know Resolution B 156 Regional Management of Forests, was passed this morning at the UBCM Convention in Vancouver. This resolution is copied below. Maybe now BC forestry will be above politics and...
I just had the chance to view the City of Victoria Council video – hat’s off to you for bringing bright, new, constructive talks to the city about the urban forest! It was awesome to see city staff clapping, even though the Mayor had to remind them of the rules. Takes good speakers to get staff to cheer!
