Trees

Memorial Trees can be purchased, in memory of loved ones, at the Township Office for $40.00 through the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA).  Individuals may also have their loved ones name added to a memorial tree sign when they purchase a tree for an additional fee per.  Signs are located at Grace Patterson Park in Thamesford, Embro Conservation Area and Harrington Conservation Area.  The trees are planted in various locations throughout Zorra on Township or UTRCA property at a pre-determined location.  Approximately 110 trees, usually 6’-8’ sugar maples, have been planted throughout the Township since the start of this program in 1995. Fill out the Memorial Tree Request Form on the Forms page of our website or contact the Township Office.

Zorra Township has partnered with Brock and Visser Funeral Home – Thamesford Chapel and UTRCA to have trees planted in memory of those individuals whose funeral arrangements have been conducted through Brock and Visser Funeral Home.  The Memorial Tree Forest is located on the 43rd Line, North of Road 68 on land owned by UTRCA.  The trees are purchased by Brock and Visser Funeral Home.  The trees that are being planted are native species, 6’-8’ in size. Since 2015, approximately 85 trees have been planted in the forest.  Contact Brock and Visser for more details at 519-285-2427.

 Currently when the Township of Zorra Public Works staff take down a tree along a road side or near private property, they offer the land owner two trees to replace the one that was removed.  The two trees are for planting on their private property. In 2015, 150 6’-8’ sugar maple trees were planted through this program.  Fill out the Tree Replacement Form on the Forms Page of our website or contact the Township Office.

Currently, if trees are removed on the County’s road allowance, the County of Oxford will replace the trees, if the landowner is willing to plant on their own property and not the road allowance.  The trees are replaced using a 1 to 1 ratio.  As for the species, it typically is native to the area and depends on the soil conditions. Contact the County of Oxford for further information at 519-539-9800.  

For Township roadsides and woodlands there is assistance through the Clean Water Program and could cover up to 50% of the cost of trees. There is an application that has to be completed with the program. For further information visit the Clean Water Website.

Through the Clean Water Program funding is available for the following projects:

 Landowners who reside in the Upper Thames River watershed and own a minimum of 2.5 acres of property are eligible to participate in the UTRCA’s Tree Planting on Private Lands program.  The program offers large stock trees and seedlings.  For further details visit the UTRCA website.