Plant Riverbank Vegetation

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Sophia Berry
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1 F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 1/10 Plant Riverbank Vegetation Teaching goals Raise students awareness of the importance of riverbank vegetation. Familiarize students with ecological processes related to local native plants. Plan and publicize an environmental event. Encourage citizens to volunteer for an activity with a direct and positive impact on their environment. Environmental goals Stabilize soil, slow riverbed silt-up, thereby improving habitat quality. Create habitat for wildlife. Provide the public with a healthy and ecological green space. Maintain biodiversity by using native plants. We strongly suggest that for this activity you team up with an organization involved with the river (watershed organization, river organization, etc.). Your municipality will probably be able to direct you to one. Suggested approach Step 1 Avenues of exploration 1. Discuss the health of the banks of the river you studied with your students. Look at pictures taken in the field and remember what you observed during the field trip for Adopt a River. Find out about local plant and animal species, the type of soil, the site s geography, the microclimate, and the quality of the river s water. 2. Check to see whether the banks are eroding and whether the riverbed is silting up. If so, explain that planting vegetation along the riverbank can improve the conditions of the ecosystem and stabilize the banks. 3. Draw up an initial list of species to plant by researching the native plants of your region. Examine with the students the advantages of choosing native species over exotic species. It is better to plant native trees, shrubs and plants because they grow naturally in a given zone, are perfectly adapted to their environment, and help maintain the region s plant heritage. To create the list, work with the person in charge of landscaping in your municipality, or with the local watershed organization. Planning time: 20 to 30 hours Activity time: 6 to 10 hours Difficulty: difficult Funds: high (+ than $100) Suggested materials native plants that match your hardiness zone good quality potting soil compost or composted manure Mycorrhiza (to promote root development) wood chips or other mulch (to minimize maintenance and retain moisture) work gloves (ask students and volunteers to bring their own) shearing knives spades and rakes picks (should be handled by adults) wheel barrow and buckets stakes and string watering cans or water pumps first-aid kit a snack and drink for all participants good shoes, a hat, appropriate clothing and sunscreen bottles of water

F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 2/10 4. To find the native plants best adapted to your region, you must determine the hardiness zone of your location.

2 F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 2/10 4. To find the native plants best adapted to your region, you must determine the hardiness zone of your location. Your hardiness zone is the geographical area in which specific plants can survive. You can find it by consulting the map from the year 2000 at the following URL: climate/hardiness/intro.html. You can then find information about plants specific to your zone. The native plant database at Evergreen.ca ( nativeplants.evergreen.ca/) lists native plants for every Canadian province. The website of the Naiades group ( In French) has an excellent tool to guide you in choosing the right plants and provides examples of landscaping. 5. For other resources and links about native plants, teachers may download free of charge a teacher s guide entitled Our Home and Native Plants (Wildlife Canadian Federation Web site). 6. Compile a media kit detailing your project. It should contain information that answers the questions Who?, What?, Where?, Why?, How? and How much?. This will be useful when you meet with the landowner, in organizing your communications with the media, and in assembling relevant documents, and it will lend credibility to your project when soliciting funding from potential partners. Step 2 - Approval 1. Ask permission from your principal to organize a planting activity. Mention the activity s objectives and estimated cost. Next ask if you can organize a fundraising activity to support the project. 2. Find out who owns the land of the site where you want to plant vegetation. Is it public or private land? Who is in charge of its development? Your local municipality may be able to help you find this information. Note that the municipality manages most un-developed land and parks located near rivers. 3. If it is public land, you should discuss the project with a city councilor. These officials have a thorough knowledge of the community and will be able to direct you to people likely to be in a position to help you. Ask for a meeting and present your idea. The city councilor will probably bring up certain concerns and possible problems that you will need to be aware of. 4. If a planting project is already underway or in the planning stages, suggest your collaboration. If other groups have previously carried out similar naturalization projects, ask the councilor for details. 5. Get authorization (or permits) to go ahead with your project. If the councilor is hesitant to give you the green light, list the species you have chosen and the environmental benefits that your project will bring about. It will require some advance preparation to be able to explain your point of view. youth working for rivers

3 F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 3/10 6. Suggest to the landowner that they take part in the project. They could provide you with materials, funding, volunteers, and/or employees. If your municipality owns the riverbanks you have targeted, propose a ceremony involving the media and other elected officials on the day of the plantation. Such activities are of benefit to politicians. 7. Ask the landowner about future care for the plants. Who will maintain them in the years after they are planted? Such care includes weeding, watering, replacement of damaged plants, adding mulch, and pruning trees. If the person does not want to be involved, consider the possibility of you and your students doing this work in the future. However, much of the maintenance work for a plantation takes place in the summer, which is why it s a good idea to team up with a local organization. Step 3 Funding 1. Estimate the costs of the activity. Include the cost of materials (see list above) and transportation. Don t forget to include the cost of caring for the plants in the weeks after the planting The Canadian organization Evergreen ( can provide funding to Canadian publicly funded schools that engage in community greening projects. The organization offers two types of grant: School Ground Greening grants and Common Grounds grants. If your project takes place in a park or some other site accessible to the public, it is more appropriate to apply for the latter type. Go to the following URL for application details: For projects involving native plants, you may also be eligible for an Evergreen grant in partnership with Home Depot, Unilever and Wal-Mart. If you re lucky enough to have a river flowing near your school and the project takes place on the school grounds, you may be eligible for a School Grounds Greening grant. For more information about this grant, go to evergreen.ca/en/programs/schools/index.sn. You may also try your luck with a grant from the Greening Canada s School Grounds program of Tree Canada: Please note that Tree Canada s grant application deadline is mid-january. Since your project will improve a natural habitat, which will consequently have positive benefits to ocean health, you may be eligible for a grant from the Canadian Wildlife Federation s Blue School program. You can download and complete their application form at the following URL:

F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 4/10 5. 6. 7. Because you are developing new habitat, you can also apply for funding from the CWF s Wild School Habitat Projects. http://www.

4 F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 4/ Because you are developing new habitat, you can also apply for funding from the CWF s Wild School Habitat Projects. The Shell Environment Fund may provide funding assistance for materials and transportation. The application is relatively easy to fill out and can be done directly on-line at the following link: society/social_investment/social_investment_areas/environment/shell_ environmental_fund/ Be aware that you can apply to more than one program at a time. 8. You should also solicit funding from within your community. Draw up a list with your students of people, organizations and companies that might help (either with cash, materials, sponsorships or volunteers). 9. Here are a few tips that will save you some money: rather than purchasing equipment, ask your students if their parents could lend you certain gardening tools; some parents may be willing to ask their employers to provide a sponsorship. Some companies seek to demonstrate that they respect the environment; if you lack materials, contact a plant nursery or garden centre. They may be able to provide you with plants, compost or potting soil in exchange for a certain amount of visibility; contact the local organization that cares for the river. Many already have tools and have very good contacts with nurseries. Your municipality may also be able to help, if only by placing tools and wheelbarrows at your disposal, along with transportation for such equipment; also contact hardware stores. They may be willing to provide tools, garbage bags or offer a discount on your purchases; for mulch, contact wood processing companies; ask your school caretaker to lend you buckets for transporting dirt and plants. 10. Approach supermarkets and restaurants, which may be willing to provide you with food and drinks. You could also organize a hotdog sale on the site the day of the event to raise a few dollars.

5 F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 5/10 Step 4 Detailed planning 1. Select a date for the planting. Ideally, you should try to combine your activity with another special event such as Arbor Day (usually late April or early May), National Forest Week (early May), Canadian Environment Week (early June), World Environment Day (June 5), Canadian Rivers Day (second Sunday in June), or Rivers to Oceans Week (mid-june). Also make sure that the selected date is convenient for your plant supplier. Plan a back-up day in case of heavy rain. 2. Make a schedule. Plan each step in advance. Be aware that vegetation should be planted in either the spring or the fall. Factor in several weeks to obtain permits and authorizations. Post the schedule on the board in the classroom. 3. Make a sketch of the expected results. Using accurate scale measurements, mark out the area used and the species and number of plants to be planted. A landscape architect can help with this. Some municipalities have one on staff. 4. Order the plants from a native plant supplier. Some companies specialize in this area and they generally have better prices than garden centres. Confirm the delivery date and how you will pick them up. Does the company deliver? If your event will take place on a weekend, check to see if the nursery is open. If not, you will have to store them in a suitable location. If you have teamed up with a local organization, they may be able to take care of ordering and delivering the plants. 5. This link from the Canadian Wildlife Federation lists contact information for native plant retailers for every province in Canada:

F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 6/10 Step 5 Promotion 1. Contact the media (local radio and TV stations) to publicize your project.

6 F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 6/10 Step 5 Promotion 1. Contact the media (local radio and TV stations) to publicize your project. The more well-known it is, the better your chances of attracting volunteers. This publicity will also help to inform people who live or work on properties near the planting site, as well as property owners, of your event. 2. Remember that the best way to improve your visibility and recruit volunteers is by word of mouth. Better yet, it s free. So have your students spread the word among the people they know. 3. If you have the technological resources, build a website or web page for your project (see Action Sheet 5). 4. Set up a kiosk at lunch hour or make posters to put up in community centres, shopping centres, libraries, and other schools in the area. 5. Start recruiting volunteers by making a list of organizations likely to be interested in your project. Think about volunteer organizations, outdoor clubs, environmental groups, your local watershed organization, gardening centres, youth groups, community centres, Optimist and Lions clubs, for example. 6. Contact these organizations by telephone or to invite them to join your planting team. Ask interested organizations about volunteer liability. Certain organizations require participants to sign release forms for these types of activities. 7. Have your students make and distribute promotional signs and leaflets and design a large laminated poster to put up on the day of the event. 8. Invite a volunteer specialist to speak to the class (e.g., landscape architect, botanist, biologist) about the plants, landscaping plan and the steps involved in planting. A parent may be knowledgeable in this area. Send out a press release 9. to local newspapers inviting journalists to cover your event and encourage volunteers to take part (see Action Sheet 4).

7 F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 7/10 Step 6 Logistics 1. Arrange for transportation to the planting site. Take into consideration all the materials and equipment that you need to move. If possible, ask parents to help with transportation. 2. Make a map of the land to be planted, and locate one or more stations for: equipment distribution plant distribution watering mulch and potting soil food hand washing and materials for the end of the event. 3. Go over the steps involved in planting a plant with the students. Demonstrate the technique in class by planting a plant into a pot (dig the hole, plant the plant, fertilizer, mulch and watering). 4. Also discuss plant biology (the role of roots and leaves; water, sunlight and nutritional needs). 5. Explain how to use the planting tools and review the safety rules to observe when handling them. Make a list of tasks 6. that need to be done until the end of the event and organize them into a chart for your group. Write the names of students and other participants in the fields containing the tasks to be carried out (planning, funding, publicity, photographs, materials, etc.).

8 F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 8/10 Step 7 Final details 1. Make sure there is parking available near the site and that the site is accessible with all the necessary equipment. 2. Delegate tasks to students who do not want to plant (parking attendant, equipment manager, information agent, supervisor, etc.). 3. Remind students of which tasks they are to carry out and any equipment they need to bring from home. 4. If applicable, confirm delivery of the plants with your supplier. 5. Form teams of 3 or 4 students. Name a leader for each team, who will be responsible for group safety. 6. Appoint an event spokesperson (e.g., a student supervised by a parent, or another teacher) who will be responsible for explaining the project, answering questions and encouraging passersby to take part. 7. Go over the planting process you have decided on with your students. Will each team carry out all planting steps, or will different teams specialize in one of the steps? Both options are possible. 8. Purchase any necessary equipment. Anticipate having enough for all volunteers. 9. If possible, procure a map of your site and draw your development plan on it. (Your municipality may be able to provide one. If not, make one yourself.) It will be useful on the day of the event to explain to students and volunteers where the various stations are.

F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 9/10 Step 8 The day of the event 1. Be at the site one hour in advance to prepare materials and equipment. 2.

9 F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 9/10 Step 8 The day of the event 1. Be at the site one hour in advance to prepare materials and equipment. 2. Put up the laminated poster to direct volunteers and to make the site more visible. 3. Distribute the plants to the locations where they are to be planted. 4. Make sure all participants have work gloves. 5. Form teams of 3 or 4 volunteers and distribute equipment to each team. 6. Appoint parents or volunteers as resource personnel, who will assist with supervising the work of other participants. Ideally, these people should be clearly identified. 7. Hold an information session with your group. Thank volunteers for their involvement. Show them the landscaping plan and the plants to be planted. Review the steps involved in planting and do a demonstration. It might be useful to have a poster with images of the main steps. Stress the importance of abundant watering after planting. Review the safety rules: Wearing gloves is mandatory. Use tools with care. Stay with your group. Be careful on the edge of the river and on steep slopes. Wash hands before leaving. Indicate the location of the first-aid kit. Mention when the event will end. Emphasize that participants should help to clean up the site before leaving. 8. Use stakes and string to mark off areas where you have planted to prevent people from stepping on the new plants. Leave them in place until the plants are well established. 9. At the end of the day, each team should return the equipment they have borrowed and wash their hands. Participants can then enjoy the refreshments provided. If there are any un-planted plants, 10. give them away to participants who wish to take them home. Ask your principal if it would be okay to plant a few on the school grounds.

F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 10/10 Step 9 Follow-up 1. Organize the pictures taken at the event. 2. Tally up the number of plants planted. 3.

Come up with positive point and areas for improvement. 5. Write a report that your school can keep in order to ensure the project continues to be carried out over the long term.

10 F-10 Action Sheet Rehabilitation and Restoration Work page 10/10 Step 9 Follow-up 1. Organize the pictures taken at the event. 2. Tally up the number of plants planted. 3. Publicize your results to volunteers and local newspapers by sending out a press release (see Action Sheet 4). 4. Assess the projects, reconsidering the goals and the process. Come up with positive point and areas for improvement. 5. Write a report that your school can keep in order to ensure the project continues to be carried out over the long term. Send the report to the organizations/companies who sponsored you. Some of these will have their own report forms. 6. Make your achievement more memorable by writing stories, poems and songs, or by displaying drawings and murals. Suggested project timetable Don t forget Take photos of the various stages (before and after) of your event. Try to use the same angle for before-and-after pictures. This will make the changes even more apparent. You can also use these photos if you write an article for your local newspaper or on your school s website. Send your best pictures to G3E and your partners in order to publicize your important work to improve a river.

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