Sustainability

The white willow's final season, its legacy takes new root

Cuttings will be shared with the community

White willow south of Tier building
Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes
The white willow as it currently stands south of Tier building.
The white willow as it currently stands south of Tier building.
Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes

The white willow, on the south side of the Tier Building, has reached the end of its long-standing life. Estimated to have been planted in the 1960s, the willow is the largest tree on campus by diameter at breast height (DBH) at 100-centimeters. The tree’s slow and continuous decline in health means that its removal is necessary to ensure safety and to support the long-term health of the UM urban canopy. While this marks the end of the tree's life on campus, it also opens a door to reflect on the significance of willows both in prairie ecosystems and within the green spaces that shape our campus.

Importance of willows

Willows in appearance are large, fast-growing trees. White willows, with their silver foliage, have long been valued for their resilience, moisture seeking roots, ability to stabilize soil and their deep cultural associations with renewal and healing. Across the prairies, willows offer shade, retain moisture and create habitat in open environments where shelter is limited. Even within an urban forest, they echo the ecological benefits of the larger prairie landscape, forming microhabitats, supporting biodiversity and adding structure and softness to the spaces we share.

White willow in its early years.
White willow (tree in center of image) during its early years. Photo from the UM Archives, exact date unknown.

Continued legacy

Trees removed from campus lands are often salvaged through UM’s Reclaimed Wood Inventory and are provided with a new life. Though this white willow is of significant size, its decay limits the ability to mill the trunk or larger limbs. To honour the legacy of this remarkable tree, willow cuttings taken from its healthy branches will be offered to the community. 

 

Each cutting carries forward the spirit of the original willow, creating opportunities for new life to take root across the landscape. UM community members may choose to plant a cutting at home on larger properties away from buildings and foundations, nurture it in a garden, or share it with neighbours to extend the tree’s presence throughout the city. These trees need significant space to ensure they do not cause any property damage, be mindful when planting. UM kindly asks the community to respect the urban forest by not planting the cuttings on campus lands. 

 

The branches can also be used for art prints, allowing the tree’s material to be transformed into objects that honour its history. Whether planted, crafted, or cared for in another creative way, each cutting helps continue the legacy of a tree that shaped a space within our campus for more than half a century.

Cuttings available

Willow cuttings will be available for interested community members on Wednesday, May 6 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Pick up will occur at a table located between the Tier building and the Dafoe Road bus stop. Cuttings will be available on a first-come first-served basis.

Did you know?

UM maintains a database of all trees on the Fort Garry campus. Visit the tree inventory website to learn more.

Campus green spaces

For more information about campus landscapes and how UM is taking steps to preserve these green spaces, visit the Land website.