Celebrating partnership with Forests Canada
Maitland Conservation celebrates five years working with Forests Canada
Over five years, Maitland Conservation has worked alongside Forests Canada (formerly Forests Ontario) to plant 43,000 trees in the Maitland Valley watershed. This is work to help restore Canada’s forests and contribute to a healthier Lake Huron by protecting soil health and water quality.
Retiring marginal farmland, such as steeply sloped fields and flood plains, as well as replanting areas that have been decimated by the Emerald Ash Borer, are just some examples of how the funding and support from both organizations have been used.
Jamie Heffer is Warden of Huron County and a farmer himself. He took part in this initiative in the spring of 2025.
“The 10 acres we chose to reforest was too steep to crop properly and dangerous to have equipment on,” he said. “The tree planting will reduce soil erosion on this steep slope on that property.”
Each year, in partnership, Maitland Conservation receives an allocation of seedlings to plant in the spring. The program began with 3,500 seedlings in the first year. With proper tending, landowners who participated in these earliest plantings are seeing their goals come to life.
“Since planting, I’ve been amazed at the incredible growth. Many trees are shooting up two feet or more each year,” said Wayne Caldwell, about his four-year old planting. “The added diversity is already drawing in more wildlife and birds, which has been a real highlight.”
This partnership, and the resulting projects, would not be possible without the landowners who initiate and care for the plantings, or the other partners who have provided supported to various projects. Those partners include the County of Huron's Huron Clean Water Project and Maitland Conservation Foundation.
As these projects grow, their impact on the watershed will too. When asked what they are looking forward to most for the planting in the future, Jamie Heffer responded: “I’m never going to see this fully established like I’d like to, but if we get it started well, then we set it up for the next generation.”
Maitland Conservation stewardship staff were able to coordinate the planting of 22 acres in 2025 and are encouraging interested landowners to reach out as they strive for 25 acres in spring 2026.
Interested in your own planting and in the Maitland Valley watershed?
Reach out to Karlene Zurbrigg, kzurbrigg@mvca.on.ca or call 519-335-3557, extension 250.
Not in the Maitland Valley watershed but interested in planting?
Reach out to your local conservation authority or Forests Canada.
For more information on the programs above, visit their websites below.
- Maitland Conservation Tree Planting Programs
- Forests Canada
- Huron Clean Water Project
- Maitland Conservation Foundation
TOP PHOTO: Block planting adjacent to cornfield completed in 2022 in the Maitland Valley watershed on marginal, sloped farmland to reduce erosion. Tree species include White Cedar; White Pine; Sugar Maple; and Red Oak.
PHOTO BELOW: Wayne Caldwell’s four-year-old planting with a mowed clover cover crop. Species include White Spruce; White Cedar; Read Oak; Sycamore; and Tulip Tree.
