LEAF - Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests

We envision communities where nature thrives and everyone benefits from a healthy urban forest. We engage communities to nurture the urban forest through planting, stewardship and education, fostering connections between people and nature. In 1995, LEAF’s journey began when founder Janet McKay started a tree sapling distribution project to help her Toronto neighbours plant native trees. While the project was popular, many saplings didn’t survive. When Janet visited participants’ yards, she discovered a variety of challenges: trees planted too close to buildings or other trees; species that required full sun planted in shade; trees still sitting in pots on porches; or, in some cases, no tree at all! This experience inspired Janet to create the Backyard Tree Planting Program (BYTP). Over the next few years, she secured funding and hired teams of youth, who were trained to properly site and plant trees. This approach significantly improved tree survival rates. Through this process, LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) was born. As interest grew, so did LEAF. Community tree planting events on public lands began in 2004. Shortly after that, in 2006, educational programs were added, including the Tree Tenders Training Program and guided Tree Tours. Urban Forest Demonstration Gardens, maintained by volunteers, were established at several TTC stations in 2010. In 2015, LEAF introduced youth training and mentorship programs, starting with the Young Urban Forest Leaders Program, followed later by the Young Ravine Leaders Program. By 2018, LEAF began to focus on tree equity through the Toronto Community Housing Planting and Stewardship Program. This work continues to deepen, with targeted efforts to engage communities in equity-denied neighbourhoods beginning in 2023. Today LEAF is a thriving organization that offers programs in Toronto, York Region and Durham Region. Recognized for connecting people with trees, LEAF brings together thousands of program participants, volunteers and donors each year to build a future where everyone benefits from a healthy urban forest.

LEAF provides a variety of programs and services that focus on planting, stewardship and education. These include: - our Backyard Tree Planting Program for homeowners to plant native trees and shrubs on their own property - our Community Planting and Stewardship events where residents can volunteers to plant and care for native trees and shrubs on public lands - our presentations, workshops and tree tour where residents can learn more about the urban forest