Markham residents will once again have the chance to roll up their sleeves and help green the city this spring, with thousands of trees and shrubs set to be planted across multiple volunteer events in May.
Environmental non-profit 10,000 Trees for the Rouge has announced its 2026 spring planting schedule, featuring three major events across Markham that aim to add more than 6,000 trees and shrubs to local parks and conservation areas.
The largest event will take place at Milne Dam Conservation Park, where volunteers will plant 5,000 trees and shrubs on May 3. Organizers are looking for approximately 1,250 volunteers to help across morning and afternoon planting sessions.
A setup day will be held May 2 from 8 a.m. to noon, followed by planting coach training for experienced volunteers in the afternoon.
Participants at the Milne Dam event will also be treated to a complimentary barbecue lunch and can visit “Discovery Alley,” an environmental information fair featuring organizations such as the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Markham Public Library, LEAF and Rouge National Urban Park.
Additional planting days are scheduled for May 16 at Berczy Park North, where 700 trees and shrubs will be planted, and May 30 at Austin Drive Park, where volunteers will add another 450.
All events require advance registration through Eventbrite, with limited volunteer spots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Youth under 18 may attend with adult supervision.
Founded in 1989, 10,000 Trees for the Rouge is a volunteer-run non-profit focused on restoring natural habitat in the Rouge Valley watershed and has helped restore more than 270 acres of fragile watershed land, supporting wildlife corridors and protecting local creeks and streams from erosion.
Its annual planting events have grown into one of the region’s largest environmental volunteer initiatives, regularly attracting thousands of participants each year.
More information and registration details can be found at 10000trees.com.
By Scarlett Liu, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Apr 23, 2026 at 15:42
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