Practice household water conservation - turn off the tap when you brush your teeth, use a low flow showerhead and consider shorter showers. Only run full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine.

Greening Essex County Schoolyards!

The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) is teaming up with seven schools to plant large stock native trees in schoolyards this fall. With a current natural areas cover of only 7.5%, schoolyard plantings contribute to ERCA's goal of increasing forest cover within the Essex region. These plantings also contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, provide shade on the schoolyard, and in many cases, provide an outdoor classroom where students can experience nature first-hand.

These plantings are part of the EcoSchools Environmental Stewardship Program. Students from each of Kingsville High School, Talbot Trail Public School, LaSalle Public School, Sandwich Secondary School, Sandwich West Public School, Holy Cross Elementary, and St. John the Evangelist Elementary will be planting a variety of native trees and shrubs on their respective school properties, including silver maple, sugar maple, honey locust, and basswood trees. Over 380 native trees and shrubs will be planted at Windsor-Essex region schools this fall.

These schoolyard tree planting efforts have been made possible through funding from the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup and the EcoAction Community Funding Program.

For more information, please contact Caroline Biribauer, Friends of Watersheds Organizer, at 519- 776-5209, ext. 245, or cbiribauer@erca.org