New Westminster has one of the lowest tree canopy cover compared to other cities in Metro Vancouver. Through the development of its Urban Forest Management Strategy in 2016, and the declaration of a climate emergency in 2019, the City has prioritized the protection, maintenance and growth of the urban forest towards increasing the City’s tree canopy cover from 18 percent to 27 percent by 2030.

To help advance this target, the City of New Westminster was awarded $50,000 by Tree Canada to participate in their 2022 National Greening Program. The program funds mass seedling plantings across Canada where there is a need for reforestation or afforestation to help contribute to a future with cleaner air, soil and waterways. The funding will be used to plant up to 25,000 native tree and plant seedlings in four of New Westminster’s natural areas including the north and south portions of Queen’s Park, Hume Park and Glenbrook.

In 2022, the following biodiversity improvements were made based on recommendations in the New Westminster Biodiversity and Natural Areas Strategy.

• Improvement of Soil Health
• Integration of Woody Debris
• Provision of Wild Life Trees
• Enhancement of the Forest Canopy Structure
• Removal of Invasive Species
• Restoration of Unsanctioned Trails
• Installation of Rock piles
• Provision of Mulch Cover
• Tree Planting
• Increasing Ground Cover Vegetation
• Installation of Vernal Ponds
• Restricting Access to Sensitive Ecology

Read more about types of biodiversity improvements.

Phase 1: Queen's Park

February - April 2022 - 12,230 seedlings planted.

Queen's Park North Reforestation Map

Queen's Park South Reforestation Map

Tree species planted: Sitka spruce, Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Vine Maple, Western Hemlock, Red Alder, Bigleaf Maple, Black Cottonwood, Beaked Hazelnut, Pacific Willow.

Ground Cover & Understory species planted: Saskatoon Berry, Indian Plum, Red flowering currant, Red-osier Dogwood, Black Hawthorn, Hardhack, Pacific Ninebark, Red Elderberry, Red Huckleberry, Snowberry, Salmonberry.

Phase 2: Hume Park and Glenbrook Ravine

July - October 2022

Hume Park - 4700 seedling planted

Lower Hume Park Reforestation Map

Tree species planted: Sitka spruce, Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Vine Maple, Western Hemlock, Red Alder, Bigleaf Maple, Black Cottonwood, Pacific Willow

Ground Cover & Understory species planted: Saskatoon Berry, Indian Plum, Red flowering currant, Red-osier Dogwood, Black Hawthorn, Hardhack, Pacific Ninebark, Red Huckleberry, Snowberry, Salmonberry

Vernal Pond Species: Yarrow, Pearly everlasting, Cut-leaf Anemone, Red Columbine, Mertens Sedge, Slough Sedge, Beaked Sedge, Red Osier Dogwood, Salal, Goldenrod, Hardhack, Cattail.

Glenbrook Ravine - 5,900 seedlings planted

Glenbrook Ravine Reforestation Map

Tree species planted: Sitka spruce, Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Vine Maple, Western Hemlock, Bigleaf Maple

Ground Cover & Understory species planted: Pacific Ninebark, Red Elderberry, Hardhack, Red-osier, Dogwood, Black Twinberry, Nootka Rose, Salmonberry

Project Contact

Erika Mashig
Manager Parks & Open Space Planning, Design and Construction