The snow fence that adorns the west side of Arthur Street between Elmira and St. Jacobs is getting an upgrade: wooded rather than wooden.
An agreement approved this week between Woolwich Township and the Region of Waterloo sees the launch of a pilot project to gradually replace the temporary fencing erected before each winter with a living fence of trees, bushes and shrubs.
The first stage, getting underway at the end of September, will cover approximately 1.5 acres of farmland on the west side of Arthur Street, extending south of the train tracks for about half a kilometre. The region will provide the plants. The work will be carried out by volunteers coordinated by the Township of Woolwich Environmental Enhancement Committee (TWEEC).
Woolwich councillors meeting Tuesday night approved the deal with the region.
Coun. Mark Bauman said some 700 plants, including trees of varying sizes, will be put in the ground between Sept. 29 and Oct. 9.
The temporary snow fence will remain in place while the living fence grows in. The plantings will provide the same function, reducing the amount of snow drifting over the highway, but without the expense of installing and removing the fencing each year in conjunction with the winter season. The result will also be more pleasing to the eye.
“It’s a wonderful idea,” said Coun. Julie-Anne Herteis is supporting the motion.
