Plant the future: turn unused land into your own thriving forest
For more than 20 years, York Region has helped landowners turn unused land into thriving forests through the Grow Your Legacy program. Together with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA), we’ve planted over 763,000 trees on more than 1,000 acres. That’s like creating 900 football fields of new forest cover.
These trees do more than beautify your property, they clean the air, soak up stormwater and help communities withstand extreme weather.
York Region’s forests also make a huge impact on climate change. Each year, they remove and store 77,000 tonnes of carbon, which is the same as taking 60,000 cars off the road.
If you own two or more acres, you may qualify for up to 90% funding to plant your own forest. With expert guidance from planning to planting and beyond, the program makes it easy to:
- Create wildlife habitats and restore natural beauty
- Cut energy costs and reduce yard maintenance
- Increase your property value and privacy
- Support climate action by removing carbon pollution
- Qualify for potential property tax reductions
Whether you want to start a brand-new forest, expand an existing one or build a windbreak, we’ll help you every step of the way.
Ready to get started? Visit york.ca/TreePlanting to learn more.