There is some confusion over the naturalization of the Grey County Administration building  lawn after a social media post by Selwyn J. Hicks. Here is what is actually happening.The naturalization will take place over a number of years. The black plastic seen in the photo above was placed over this year's planting area. In a solarization process, the plastic helps to prepare the ground for planting.

In the morning on September 22 prep work will be continued by volunteers and staff. The plastic will be removed, cardboard laid down and soaked with water. Stakes will be put in to indicate where the larger trees are to go.

On the afternoon of October 15, Grey County Staff and volunteers are planting about twelve 4' sugar maples, three 8' red maples, 3 large sugar maples and numerous shrubs, including flowering shrubs. We're hoping this will be a celebration not only of this project but of trees and their carers in general.

A walking path is not being built. As they grow larger the trees may invite people to walk among them in ways that a large lawn expanse doesn't. Who knows? Financially, the project falls within the already established county budget for maintenance of the grounds - no new monies have been allocated. We anticipate that the yearly cost of maintaining a naturalized area as opposed to a monoculture lawn will either be the same or less but tracking it would be important.

This project is happening because members of NeighbourWoodsNorth came up with a plan after taking into account budgets, available staff, reviewing pertinent literature, consulting with staff and experts and then made a persuasive argument to the council. We acknowledge there are many other social, health, and environmental problems faced by the city, county, and province. Unfortunately one small project can not address them all.

- Meg Dean, NeighbourWoodsNorth member