Community‑powered projects that strengthen the urban forests of our region.
Our urban forest initiatives bring people together to plant trees, honour community members, support veterans, amplify environmental action, and celebrate the collective impact of residents. These initiatives evolve over time, reflecting the needs and opportunities of our rapidly growing region.
Below are our current initiatives, followed by a look back at the past initiatives that helped shape our work.
Current Initiatives
SPROUT
SPROUT supports early‑stage environmental learning and engagement by connecting youth, families, and community groups with hands‑on tree planting and nature‑based activities. The initiative helps cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards and builds long‑term community connection to the urban forest.
Veterans Tree Program
The Veterans Tree Program is a partnership between ReForest London and Parkwood Institute delivered through the Community Tree Nursery. Resident veterans participate in meaningful recreation by growing and caring for native trees — nurturing them from seed to sapling. Once ready, these trees are integrated into ReForest London’s planting and restoration programs, creating a living legacy that honours their contributions while strengthening the urban forest.
Past Initiatives
Signal Boost Initiative
Signal Boost was a collaborative initiative that partnered with environmental and grassroots nonprofits to amplify environmental education across our region. Supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the initiative provided facilitation, workshop delivery, marketing support, and event management services at no cost to participating organizations. Signal Boost strengthened the capacity of local groups and expanded the reach of environmental learning throughout London.
Million Tree Challenge
The Million Tree Challenge was a London‑wide movement to plant one million trees across the city. In partnership with the City of London, businesses, community members, and local organizations worked together to grow the urban canopy and inspire long‑term environmental action. While the initiative has concluded, its legacy continues through ongoing planting efforts and community engagement in urban forest growth.
Neighbourhood ReLeaf
Neighbourhood ReLeaf was an initiative focused on increasing canopy cover in London neighbourhoods through free tree giveaways. Thanks to the gracious support of the City of London through TreeME, ReForest London staff and volunteers provided residents in low‑canopy areas with native trees to plant at home. The initiative strengthened tree equity, empowered residents, and helped build greener, healthier neighbourhoods across the city.
Celebration Forest
Celebration Forest was a decade‑long initiative to build a forest of legacy trees at the Westminster Ponds Centre. Over ten years, community members planted trees to honour and celebrate loved ones, creating a living tribute that continues to grow today. The initiative was delivered in partnership with LHSC, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and ReForest London, bringing together healthcare institutions and the community to cultivate a meaningful, restorative natural space.
Solutions at Scale: Urban Forestry Education Series
Solutions at Scale was a large‑scale virtual urban forestry conference and webinar series designed to make urban forestry issues accessible to wider audiences. Supported by the Government of Canada through the 2 Billion Trees Initiative, the series shared research, expertise, and practical tools with communities, practitioners, and decision‑makers. Solutions at Scale expanded public understanding of urban forestry and helped build capacity for climate‑resilient action.
Our Urban Forest, Growing Together
Each initiative — past and present — contributes to a healthier, greener, and more resilient London. Explore the stories, partners, and community impact behind these projects to see how collective action shapes our urban forest.