Burlington residents can get their hands dirty for a good cause at Hidden Valley Park this Saturday, June 27, 2026. Conservation Halton is hosting a community tree planting event from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and everyone is welcome to help put native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers in the ground along Grindstone Creek.
Organizers say the planting will strengthen the creekside habitat and improve wildlife corridors that link Cootes Paradise to the Niagara Escarpment. Hidden Valley Park sits on a quiet bend of Grindstone Creek in Aldershot, acting as a natural stepping stone for animals and fish moving between the escarpment and Lake Ontario.
The event is part of a much bigger picture. Hidden Valley is a key piece of the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System, a network of nearly 2,200 hectares of protected lands that is home to almost a quarter of Canada’s wild plants and more than 50 species at risk. Conservation Halton and the City of Burlington have spent 15 years restoring the park, tackling invasive plants and erosion along the creek banks.
“For nature to thrive, especially in complex regions like ours where development needs to be in balance with the area’s rich biodiversity, it needs to be connected,” said Hassaan Basit, President and CEO of Conservation Halton.
The work is backed by serious money. In January 2023, Parks Canada put more than $3.5 million into the EcoPark System through its National Program for Ecological Corridors. A recent report also pegs the value of nature’s services in the Grindstone Creek watershed at $2 billion for stormwater management alone, with another $34 million a year in erosion control, carbon sequestration, and other benefits.
Saturday’s planting is free and family-friendly, but anyone who wants to volunteer must register in advance. On the day, volunteers will sign a waiver; those under 18 need a guardian’s signature. The event is supported by TD Friends of the Environment, the City of Burlington, and the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System.
With shovels and saplings ready, organizers are hoping for a strong turnout to keep the valley healthy for years to come.
