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Royal Botanical Gardens accepting live Christmas tree donations

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Hamilton residents are encouraged to appropriately dispose of their live Christmas trees with the holiday officially done and gone, and the Royal Botanical Gardens can help.

The RBG has brought back its annual tree collection initiative and is looking to collect a maximum of 2,000 trees to use in various stream-restoration projects.

The trees are placed into the banks of the Chedoke and Grindstone Creeks to collect and retain suspended sediment, helping to form a riverbank.

Those looking to donate are required to pre-register their Christmas tree prior to drop-off, as trees that have not been registered will not be accepted.

Drop-off is scheduled between Dec. 28 and Jan. 9, with specific drop-off instructions and location details provided in an email to registrants.

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The RBG says riverbanks have faced damage from an invasive species of fish called the common carp.

The riverbanks become fortified and stabilized as more trees are added over the years, helping to channel the flow of water during high-water events.

The RBG says the placement of trees also helps by forming an essential habitat for animals to live in, and by creating a strong soil bed where native plants can take root and begin to sprout.

Over 175,000 trees have reportedly been placed into the banks of the Chedoke and Grindstone Creeks since the project began.

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And if the RBG is no longer accepting your tree, the City of Hamilton says natural Christmas trees, no longer than 2.1 meters, will be picked up on your regularly scheduled collection day.

Ensure all lights and decorations have been removed from the tree, and trees larger than 2 meters should be cut in half.

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