25 years ago I started photographing this "one tree". It stands in the middle of a farm field on the south edge of the Oak Ridges Moraine. Back then the suburbs were about 10kms. away. The 'burbs are now a concession road away. There is a golf course down the road, one of many that dot the moraine. A farmer told me that pioneers left these lone trees out in the middle of the field because they provided midday shade for lunch and a quick nap.

Is this field greenspace?

The truth is that there hasn't been real greenspace since before Confederation. Most developers continue to disregard terrain, watershed and wildlife. Profits dictate the levelling of hills, the filling in of streams and the destruction of trees. There are better solutions to housing our growing population. I just hope they are implemented before "one tree" becomes firewood.

1. When Toronto amalgamated city planning was thrown out the window to benefit a few powerful developers and the politicians who supported them. The new Ontario government seems to understand the dire need to conserve our remaining ecologically sensitive areas like the moraine but how long will that last? Will the next government change course yet again? How do we save our dwindling resources when the “majority” drive huge, resource inefficient SUVs and are generally ignorant about the fragile state of our ecosystems?

   Posted by Jenna  on  08/05  at  11:56 AM

2. Can this tree be located on Google maps?

   Posted by luis fernandes  on  08/08  at  12:05 PM

3. The tree is one line south of Stouffville SR, near Hwy 48.

   Posted by  on  08/08  at  05:08 PM

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